Recombinant C140 receptor, its agonists and antagonists, and nucleic acids encoding the receptor

ABSTRACT

Nucleic acid molecules encoding the C140 cell surface receptor have been cloned and sequenced. The availability of C140 receptor DNA permits the recombinant production of the C140 receptor which can be produced on the surface of a cell, including an oocyte. The nucleic acid molecules are useful in an assay for detecting a substance which affects C140 receptor activity, either receptor agonists or antagonists. Further, the elucidation of the structure of the C140 receptor permits the design of agonist and antagonist compounds which are useful in such assays. The availability of the C140 receptor also permits production of antibodies specifically immunoreactive with one or more antigenic epitopes of the C140 receptor.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/390,301, filed Jan. 25, 1995, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/097,938, filed Jul. 26, 1993, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,174.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a newly discovered receptor which is a member of the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily. The receptor is expressed in endothelial cells in blood vessels. Avoidance of effects on this receptor is an essential element in limiting side effects of drugs which are administered to stimulate other receptors in this family. The invention also relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding the receptor protein or peptide.

BACKGROUND ART

Responses of animals to many therapeutic and prophylactic drugs are mediated through receptors which reside on cell surfaces. One class of such receptors comprises the G-protein-coupled receptors, whose physiological effect is mediated by a three-subunit protein complex, called G-proteins, that binds to this type of receptor with the subsequent release of a subunit, thus setting in motion additional intracellular events. Receptors of this subclass include, among others, adrenergic receptors, neuropeptide receptors, the thrombin receptor and the C140 receptor which is the subject of the herein invention. This class of receptor is characterized by the presence of seven transmembrane regions which anchor the receptor within the cell surface.

It is the elusive goal of the designers of therapeutic substances to effect a desired response in a subject in the absence of side effects. Accordingly, pharmaceuticals designed to target a specific receptor, such as the thrombin receptor, should react with the thrombin receptor specifically and have no effect on related receptors. The C140 receptor of the present invention may be involved in controlling vascular pressure, and inadvertent stimulation or blocking of this receptor would have unpredictable and therefore undesirable results. It is therefore useful to determine in advance whether therapeutic reagents designed to target, for example, the thrombin receptor will or will not have the undesired side effect of reactivity with the C140 receptor. By providing the recombinant materials for the production of the C140 receptor in convenient assay systems, as well as agonist and antagonist reagents for use in this assay, the invention makes possible the prior determination of the presence or absence of the side effect of reactivity with the C140 receptor in candidate pharmaceuticals. This side effect will usually be undesired as it is believed that the C140 receptor responds to enzymes such as serine proteases associated with trauma and immune disturbances.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and materials useful in assay systems to determine the propensity of candidate pharmaceuticals to exert undesirable side effects. The isolation, recombinant production and characterization of the C140 receptor permits the design of assay systems using the receptor as a substrate and using agonists and antagonists for the receptor as control reagents in the assay.

Thus, in one aspect, the invention is directed to recombinant materials associated with the production of C140 receptor. These include, for example, transfected cells which can be cultured so as to display the C140 receptor on their surfaces, and thus provide an assay system for the interaction of materials with the native C140 receptor. In general, the limitations on the host cells useful in these assay systems are that the cells have the appropriate mechanism to display the receptor on their surfaces and contain the G-protein as mediator to the intracellular response. (However assays which merely assess binding do not require the G-protein.) Most animal cells meet these requirements.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to C140 receptor agonists which mimic the activated form of the extracellular portion of the receptor protein. These agonists are useful as control reagents in the above-mentioned assays to verify the workability of the assay system. In addition, agonists for the C140 receptor may exhibit hypotensive effects in vivo. Accordingly, the agonists may be also, themselves, useful as antihypertensives.

In still another aspect, the invention is directed to C140 receptor antagonists. These antagonists comprise modified forms of the C140 receptor agonist peptides that lack the essential features required for activation of the receptor. These antagonists bind to receptor, do not activate it, and prevent receptor activation by agonists and the native receptor-binding ligand.

A second group of antagonists includes antibodies designed to bind specific portions of the receptor protein. In general, these are monoclonal antibody preparations which are highly specific for any desired region of the C140 receptor. The antibodies of the invention are also useful in immunoassays for the receptor protein, for example, in assessing successful expression of the gene in recombinant systems.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide nucleic acids encoding such a C140 receptor polypeptide and to use this nucleic acid to produce the polypeptide in recombinant cell culture for diagnostic use or for potential therapeutic use in hemostatic or immune response regulation.

In still other aspects, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a C140 receptor, labeled or unlabeled, and a nucleic acid sequence that is complementary to, or hybridizes under stringent conditions to, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a C140 receptor. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of the present invention excludes nucleic acid sequences which encode, or are complementary to nucleic acid sequences encoding, other known G protein-coupled receptors which are not C140 receptors, such as adrenergic receptors, neuropeptide receptors, thrombin receptors, and the like.

In addition, the invention provides a replicable vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a C140 receptor operably linked to control sequences recognized by a host transformed by the vector; host cells transformed with the vector; and a method of using a nucleic acid molecule encoding a C140 receptor to effect the production of a C140 receptor, comprising expressing the nucleic acid molecule in a culture of the transformed host cells and recovering a C140 receptor from the host cell culture. The nucleic acid sequence is also useful in hybridization assays for C140 receptor-encoding nucleic acid molecules.

In still further embodiments, the invention provides a method for producing C140 receptors comprising inserting into the DNA of a cell containing the nucleic acid sequence encoding a C140 receptor a transcription modulatory element in sufficient proximity and orientation to the C140 receptor coding sequence to influence transcription thereof, with an optional further step comprising culturing the cell containing the transcription modulatory element and the C140 receptor-encoding nucleic acid sequence.

In still further embodiments, the invention provides a cell comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a C140 receptor and an exogenous transcription modulatory element in sufficient proximity and orientation to the above coding sequence to influence transcription thereof; and a host cell containing the nucleic acid sequence encoding a C140 receptor operably linked to exogenous control sequences recognized by the host cell.

Still further is provided a method for obtaining cells having increased or decreased transcription of the nucleic acid molecule encoding a C140 receptor, comprising:

(a) providing cells containing the nucleic acid molecule;

(b) introducing into the cells a transcription modulating element; and

(c) screening the cells for a cell in which the transcription of the nucleic acid molecule is increased or decreased.

In another aspect, the invention is related to assay systems which utilize recombinant C140 receptor to screen for agonist and antagonist activity of candidate drugs. This assay is especially useful in assuring that these therapeutic agents do not have undesired side effects caused by activation or inhibition of the C140 receptor. In some cases agonist activity at this receptor system may have therapeutic utility. Some of these assay systems include the use of the agonist peptides as positive controls. The assay can also be used to screen for antagonists which inhibit the agonistic effect.

Another aspect of the invention relates to the diagnosis of conditions characterized by activation of the C140 receptor by detection in fluids, such as blood or urine, of the peptide cleaved from the C140 receptor when the receptor is activated. Another diagnostic method included in the invention is visualization of the activated forms of receptor by localizing an imaging agent to activated receptor in situ using antibodies specific to the activated receptor.

Yet another aspect of this invention relates to the therapeutic, prophylactic and research uses of various techniques to block or modulate the expression of a C140 receptor by interfering with the transcription of translation of a DNA or RNA molecule encoding the C140 receptor. This includes a method to inhibit or regulate expression of C140 receptors in a cell comprising providing to the cell an oligonucleotide molecule which is antisense to, or forms a triple helix with, C140 receptor-encoding DNA or with DNA regulating expression of C140 receptor-encoding DNA, in an amount sufficient to inhibit or regulate expression of the C140 receptors, thereby inhibiting or regulating their expression. Also included is a method to inhibit or regulate expression of C140 receptors in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an oligonucleotide molecule which is antisense to, or forms a triple helix with, C140 receptor-encoding DNA or with DNA regulating expression of C140 receptor-encoding DNA, in an amount sufficient to inhibit or regulate expression of the C140 receptors in the subject, thereby inhibiting or regulating their expression. The antisense molecule or triple helix-forming molecule in the above methods is preferably a DNA or RNA oligonucleotide.

Additional aspects of the invention are directed to pharmaceutical compositions containing the agonists and antagonists of the invention. The agonists of the invention are antihypertensives; conversely, the antagonists can elevate blood pressure if desired. Other aspects of the invention include a pharmaceutical composition useful for inhibiting or regulating C140 receptor expression in a cell or in a subject at the level of transcription or translation, which composition comprises an antisense or triple helix-forming molecule as described above which corresponds to a portion of the sequence of the C140 receptor-coding nucleic acid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B (SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2) show the DNA and deduced amino acid sequence of murine C140 receptor.

FIGS. 2A-2B (SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4) show the DNA and deduced amino acid sequence of human C140 receptor.

FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 6) shows a comparison of amino acid sequences for the human C140 receptor and murine C140 receptor.

FIG. 4 shows a proposed model of C140 receptor activation based on the deduced amino acid sequence.

FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 7) shows a comparison of amino acid sequences for the mouse C140 receptor and the human thrombin receptor.

FIG. 6 shows the results of Northern Blot to detect the presence of mRNA encoding C140 receptor in various mouse tissues.

FIG. 7 shows a trace of blood pressure demonstrating the in vivo hypotensive effect of a C140 agonist peptide.

FIGS. 8a-8b show blood vessel dilation in rat femoral vein induced by a C140 receptor agonist peptide. FIG. 8a shows these results in the immobilized vein;

FIG. 8b shows these results for the immobilized vein depleted of endothelial cells.

FIGS. 9a-9c show the results of an assay for activation of the C140 receptor, expressed in frog oocytes, by plasmin, kallikrein, or trypsin. FIG. 9a shows the results for plasmin; FIG. 9b shows the results for kallikrein; FIG. 9c shows the results for trypsin.

FIGS. 10A-10B (SEQ ID NO: 60 and SEQ ID NO: 61) show the nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of a cDNA clone encoding murine C140 receptor.

FIGS. 11A-11B (SEQ ID NO: 62 and SEQ ID NO: 63) show the nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of a cDNA clone encoding human C140 receptor.

FIG. 12 shows the results of in situ hybridization of a sectioned newborn mouse with mouse C140 receptor probes.

FIG. 13 shows a Northern blot of total RNA from human cell lines hybridized to a human C140 receptor probe.

MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The characteristics of the C140 receptor elucidated by the invention herein are summarized in FIGS. 1A/1B-4. FIGS. 1A-1B shows the complete DNA sequence of the clone encoding the murine receptor, along with the deduced amino acid sequence. As used herein, the "C140 receptor" refers to receptor in any animal species corresponding to the murine receptor contained in clone C140 described in Example 1 herein. Using the native DNA encoding the murine form of this receptor, the corresponding receptors in other species, including humans, as illustrated herein, may be obtained. FIGS. 2A-2B shows the corresponding DNA and deduced amino acid sequence of the human receptor.

The entire amino acid sequence of the murine receptor contains 395 amino acids, including a 27 amino acid signal peptide which, when cleaved, results in a 368 amino acid mature receptor protein. Similarly, the human receptor is encoded by an open reading frame corresponding to 398 amino acids including a probable 29 amino acid signal peptide sequence resulting in a 369 amino acid mature receptor protein, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B.

FIG. 3 shows a comparison of the human and murine amino acid sequences; as shown, these sequences exhibit a high degree of homology.

Hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity plots of the sequences shown in FIGS. 1A-1B and 2A-2B indicate that the mature C140 receptor is a member of the 7-transmembrane domain receptor family whose effect on the cell is mediated by G-protein. The mature C140 receptor has a relatively long extracellular amino acid extension containing several consensus sites for asparagine-linked glycosylation. It also contains a conserved asparagine in the first transmembrane region, the motif Leu-Ala-X-X-Asp in the second transmembrane region, a Trp in the fourth transmembrane region and a carboxy terminal tail which contains multiple serine and threonine residues. A proposed model of the in situ receptor is shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, similarities to the thrombin receptor are readily seen. FIG. 5 compares the amino acid sequence of murine C140 with that of thrombin receptor. It is known that the thrombin receptor is activated by proteolytic cleavage of the Arg-Ser bond at positions 41 and 42, which releases an activation peptide that permits refolding of the receptor and activation via the newly created amino terminus. In an analogous manner, the C140 receptor is activated by cleavage of the Arg-Ser bond at positions 34 and 35, also liberating an activation peptide extending from position 1 of the putative mature protein to the cleavage site. It is believed that Arg-28 is the amino terminal amino acid residue of the mature protein, so the activation peptide has the sequence RNNSKGR (SEQ ID NO: 8). This peptide could thus be used as an index for activation of C140 receptor. In any event, the precise location of the N-terminus of the mature protein is unimportant for the design of agonists or antagonists. The activation peptide is likely to be freely filtered by the kidney and possibly concentrated in the urine and can be used as an index to activation of the C140 receptor.

Release of the activation peptide permits refolding of the receptor protein to activate the receptor. This is shown schematically in FIG. 4, which also shows that the conformational changes resulting from the liberation of the activation peptide and refolding results in an intracellular conformational change of the receptor. This hypothesis is confirmed by the finding that the C140 receptor can be activated by a peptide mimicking the new amino terminus created by the activation. Accordingly, mimics of the N-terminus of the new amino terminus on the activated receptor behave as agonists therefor. The importance of the first five amino acids in the newly created amino terminus in the receptor for receptor activation has also been confirmed hereinbelow.

Based on this information, and by analogy with the mechanisms underlying trypsinogen activation to trypsin and activation of the thrombin receptor, it appears that the positively charged amino group on serine that is newly exposed when the ligand cleaves the receptor plays an important role in receptor activation. Peptides based on the agonist peptide sequence that bind the C140 receptor, but which are modified to be lacking the free α-amino group can function as antagonists of this receptor. Thus, modifications of the agonist peptides which lack the capacity for specific activating interaction serve as C140 receptor antagonists.

Ordinarily, the C140 receptors and analogs thereof claimed herein will have an amino acid sequence having at least 75% amino acid sequence identity with a "common" C140 receptor sequence (such as that disclosed in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIGS. 2A-2B), more preferably at least 80%, even more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 95%. Identity or homology with respect to a common sequence is defined herein as the percentage of amino acid residues in the candidate sequence that are identical with the known C140 receptor, after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent homology, and not considering any conservative substitutions as part of the sequence identity. None of N-terminal, C-terminal or internal extensions, deletions, or insertions into the C140 receptor sequence shall be construed as affecting homology.

Thus, the claimed C140 receptor and analog molecules that are the subject of this invention include molecules having the C140 receptor amino acid sequence; fragments thereof having a consecutive sequence of at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or 40 amino acid residues from a common C140 receptor sequence; amino acid sequence variants of a common C140 receptor sequence wherein an amino acid residue has been inserted N- or C-terminal to, or within, the C140 receptor sequence or its fragments as defined above; amino acid sequence variants of the common C140 receptor sequence or its fragment as defined above which have been substituted by another residue. C140 receptor polypeptides include those containing predetermined mutations by, e.g., homologous recombination, site-directed or PCR mutagenesis, and C140 receptor polypeptides of other animal species, including but not limited to rabbit, rat, murine, porcine, bovine, ovine, equine and non-human primate species, and alleles or other naturally occurring variants of the C140 receptor of the foregoing species and of human sequences; derivatives of the commonly known C140 receptor or its fragments wherein the C140 receptor or its fragments have been covalently modified by substitution, chemical, enzymatic, or other appropriate means with a moiety other than a naturally occurring amino acid (for example a detectable moiety such as an enzyme or radioisotope); glycosylation variants of C140 receptor (insertion of a glycosylation site or deletion of any glycosylation site by deletion, insertion or substitution of appropriate amino acid); and soluble forms of C140.

The novel proteins and peptides of the present invention are preferably those which share a common biological activity with the C140 receptor, including but not limited to an effector or receptor function or cross-reactive antigenicity. Such fragments and variants exclude any C140 receptor polypeptide heretofore made public, including any known protein or polypeptide of any animal species, which is otherwise anticipatory under 35 U.S.C. §102 as well as polypeptides obvious over such known protein or polypeptides under 35 U.S.C. §103. Specifically, the present C140 receptor proteins, analogs, fragments and variants exclude other known G protein-coupled receptors which are not C140 receptors, such as adrenergic receptors, neuropeptide receptors, thrombin receptors, and the like.

Compounds of the Invention

The nomenclature used to describe the peptide compounds of the invention follows the conventional practice where the N-terminal amino group is assumed to be to the left and the carboxy group to the right of each amino acid residue in the peptide. In the formulas representing selected specific embodiments of the present invention, the amino- and carboxy-terminal groups, although often not specifically shown, will be understood to be in the form they would assume at physiological pH values, unless otherwise specified. Thus, the N-terminal H⁺ ₂ and C-terminal O⁻ at physiological pH are understood to be present though not necessarily specified and shown, either in specific examples or in generic formulas. Free functional groups on the side chains of the amino acid residues can also be modified by amidation, acylation or other substitution, which can, for example, change the solubility of the compounds without affecting their activity.

In the peptides shown, each gene-encoded residue, where appropriate, is represented by a single letter designation, corresponding to the trivial name of the amino acid, in accordance with the following conventional list:

    ______________________________________                                                         One-Letter                                                                              Three-letter                                            Amino Acid             Symbol     Symbol                                     ______________________________________                                         Alanine         A        Ala                                                     Arginine                 R         Arg                                         Asparagine               N         Asn                                         Aspartic acid            D         Asp                                         Cysteine                 C         Cys                                         Glutamine                Q         Gln                                         Glutamic acid            E         Glu                                         Glycine                  G         Gly                                         Histidine                H         His                                         Isoleucine               I         Ile                                         Leucine                  L         Leu                                         Lysine                   K         Lys                                         Methionine               M         Met                                         Phenylalanine            F         Phe                                         Proline                  P         Pro                                         Serine                   S         Ser                                         Threonine                T         Thr                                         Tryptophan               W         Trp                                         Tyrosine                 Y         Tyr                                         Valine                   V         Val                                       ______________________________________                                    

The amino acids not encoded genetically are abbreviated as indicated in the discussion below.

In the specific peptides shown in the present application, the L-form of any amino acid residue having an optical isomer is intended unless the D-form is expressly indicated by a dagger superscript (.sup.†)

The compounds of the invention are peptides which are partially defined in terms of amino acid residues of designated classes. Amino acid residues can be generally subclassified into four major subclasses as follows:

Acidic: The residue has a negative charge due to loss of H ion at physiological pH and the residue is attracted by aqueous solution so as to seek the surface positions in the conformation of a peptide in which it is contained when the peptide is in aqueous medium at physiological pH.

Basic: The residue has a positive charge due to association with H ion at physiological pH and the residue is attracted by aqueous solution so as to seek the surface positions in the conformation of a peptide in which it is contained when the peptide is in aqueous medium at physiological pH.

Neutral/nonpolar: The residues are not charged at physiological pH and the residue is repelled by aqueous solution so as to seek the inner positions in the conformation of a peptide in which it is contained when the peptide is in aqueous medium. These residues are also designated "hydrophobic" herein.

Neutral/polar: The residues are not charged at physiological pH, but the residue is attracted by aqueous solution so as to seek the outer positions in the conformation of a peptide in which it is contained when the peptide is in aqueous medium.

It is understood, of course, that in a statistical collection of individual residue molecules some molecules will be charged, and some not, and there will be an attraction for or repulsion from an aqueous medium to a greater or lesser extent. To fit the definition of "charged," a significant percentage (at least approximately 25%) of the individual molecules are charged at physiological pH. The degree of attraction or repulsion required for classification as polar or nonpolar is arbitrary and, therefore, amino acids specifically contemplated by the invention have been classified as one or the other. Most amino acids not specifically named can be classified on the basis of known behavior.

Amino acid residues can be further subclassified as cyclic or noncyclic, and aromatic or nonaromatic, self-explanatory classifications with respect to the side chain substituent groups of the residues, and as small or large. The residue is considered small if it contains a total of 4 carbon atoms or less, inclusive of the carboxyl carbon. Small residues are, of course, always nonaromatic.

For the naturally occurring protein amino acids, subclassification according to the foregoing scheme is as follows.

Acidic: Aspartic acid and Glutamic acid;

Basic/noncyclic: Arginine, Lysine;

Basic/cyclic: Histidine;

Neutral/polar/small: Glycine, serine, cysteine;

Neutral/nonpolar/small: Alanine;

Neutral/polar/large/nonaromatic: Threonine, Asparagine, Glutamine;

Neutral/polar/large aromatic: Tyrosine;

Neutral/nonpolar/large/nonaromatic: Valine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Methionine;

Neutral/nonpolar/large/aromatic: Phenylalanine, and Tryptophan

The gene-encoded secondary amino acid proline, although technically within the group neutral/nonpolar/large/cyclic and nonaromatic, is a special case due to its known effects on the secondary conformation of peptide chains, and is not, therefore, included in this defined group.

Certain commonly encountered amino acids, which are not encoded by the genetic code, include, for example, beta-alanine (beta-Ala), or other omega-amino acids, such as 3-amino propionic, 2,3-diamino propionic (2,3-diaP), 4-amino butyric and so forth, alpha-aminisobutyric acid (Aib), sarcosine (Sar), ornithine (Orn), citrulline (Cit), t-butylalanine (t-BuA), t-butylglycine (t-BuG), N-methylisoleucine (N-MeIle), phenylglycine (Phg), and cyclohexylalanine (Cha), norleucine (Nle), cysteic acid (Cya) 2-naphthylalanine (2-Nal); 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (Tic); β-2-thienylalanine (Thi); and methionine sulfoxide (MSO). These also fall conveniently into particular categories.

Based on the above definitions,

Sar, beta-Ala, 2,3-diaP and Aib are neutral/nonpolar/small;

t-BuA, t-BuG, N-MeIle, Nle, Mvl and Cha are neutral/nonpolar/large/nonaromatic;

Orn is basic/noncyclic;

Cya is acidic;

Cit, Acetyl Lys, and MSO are neutral/polar/large/nonaromatic; and

Phg, Nal, Thi and Tic are neutral/nonpolar/large/aromatic.

The various omega-amino acids are classified according to size as neutral/nonpolar/small (beta-Ala, i.e., 3-aminopropionic, 4-aminobutyric) or large (all others).

Other amino acid substitutions of those encoded in the gene can also be included in peptide compounds within the scope of the invention and can be classified within this general scheme according to their structure.

All of the compounds of the invention, when an amino acid forms the C-terminus, may be in the form of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters. Salts may be, for example, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺², Mg⁺² and the like; the esters are generally those of alcohols of 1-6C.

In all of the peptides of the invention, one or more amide linkages (--CO--NH--) may optionally be replaced with another linkage which is an isostere such as --CH₂ NH--, --CH₂ S--, --CH₂ CH₂, --CH═CH-- (cis and trans), --COCH₂ --, --CH(OH)CH₂ -- and --CH₂ SO--. This replacement can be made by methods known in the art. The following references describe preparation of peptide analogs which include these alternative-linking moieties: Spatola, A. F., Vega Data (March 1983), Vol. 1, Issue 3, "Peptide Backbone Modifications" (general review); Spatola, A. F., in "Chemistry and Biochemistry of Amino Acids Peptides and Proteins," B. Weinstein, eds., Marcel Dekker, New York, p. 267 (1983) (general review); Morley, J. S., Trends Pharm Sci (1980) pp. 463-468 (general review); Hudson, D., et al., Int J Pept Prot Res (1979) 14:177-185 (--CH₂ NH--, --CH₂ CH₂ --); Spatola, A. F., et al., Life Sci (1986) 38:1243-1249 (--CH₂ --S); Hann, M. M., J Chem Soc Perkin Trans I (1982) 307-314 (--CH--CH--, cis and trans); Almquist, R. G., et al., J Med Chem (1980) 23:1392-1398 (--COCH₂ --); Jennings-White, C., et al., Tetrahedron Lett (1982) 23:2533 (--COCH₂ --); Szelke, M., et al., European Application EP 45665 (1982) CA:97:39405 (1982) (--CH(OH)CH₂ --); Holladay, M. W., et al., Tetrahedron Lett (1983) 24:4401-4404 (--C(OH)CH₂ --); and Hruby, V. J., Life Sci (1982) 31:189-199 (--CH₂ --S--).

A. Agonists

The agonists of the invention comprise a series of peptides of the formula

    AA.sub.1 -AA.sub.2 -AA.sub.3 -AA.sub.4 -AA.sub.5 -AA.sub.6 -AA.sub.7 -Z (1)

wherein

AA₁ is a small amino acid or threonine;

AA₂ and AA₃ are each independently neutral/nonpolar/large/nonaromatic amino acids;

AA₄ is a small amino acid;

AA₅ is a basic amino acid;

AA₆ may be present or absent and, if present, is a neutral/nonpolar/large/nonaromatic amino acid;

AA₇ is absent if AA₆ is absent and may be present or absent if AA₆ is present, and is an acidic amino acid; and

Z is a substituent that does not interfere with agonist activity.

The peptide of formula 1 can be extended (shown as included in Z) at the C-terminus (but not the N-terminus) by further amino acid sequence to comprise a noninterfering substituent.

At the C-terminus of the compounds of formula 1, the carboxyl group may be in the underivatized form or may be amidated or may be an ester; in the underivatized form the carboxyl may be as a free acid or a salt, preferably a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

If the C-terminus is amidated, the nitrogen atom of the amido group, covalently bound to the carbonyl carbon at the C-terminus, will be NR'R', wherein each R' is independently hydrogen or is a straight or branched chain alkyl of 1-6C, such alkyls are 1-6C straight- or branched-chain saturated hydrocarbyl residues, such as methyl, ethyl, isopentyl, n-hexyl, and the like. Representatives of such amido groups are: --NH₂, --NHCH₃, --N(CH₃)₂, --NHCH₂ CH₃, --NHCH₂ CH(CH₃)₂, and --NHCH₂ CH(CH₃)CH₂ CH₃, among others. Furthermore, either or both R' may in turn optionally be substituted by one or more substituents such as, for example, --OR', --NR'R', halo, --NR'CNR'NR'R' and the like, wherein each R' is as independently defined above. Thus, Z may be --OH, or an ester (OR') or salt forms thereof, or --NR'R' wherein R' is as above defined.

Preferred embodiments of AA₁ are Ser on 2,3-diaminopropionyl (2,3-diaP). Preferred embodiments of AA₂ and AA₃ are Val, Ile, Cha and Leu. Preferred embodiments for the residues in the remainder of the compound of formula (1) are those wherein AA₄ is Gly, AA₅ is Lys, Arg or Har, AA₆, if present, is Val, Ile, Cha or Leu, and AA₇, if present, is Asp or Glu. Particularly preferred are compounds of formula (1) which are selected from the group consisting of SLIGRLETQPPIT (SEQ ID NO: 32), SLIGRLETQPPI (SEQ ID NO: 33), SLIGRLETQPP (SEQ ID NO: 34), SLIGRLETQP (SEQ ID NO: 35), SLIGRLETQ (SEQ ID NO: 36), SLIGRLET (SEQ ID NO: 37), SLIGRLE (SEQ ID NO: 38), SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 39), SLIGR (SEQ ID NO: 40), SLLGKVDGTSHVT (SEQ ID NO: 41), SLLGKVDGTSHV (SEQ ID NO: 42), SLLGKVDGTSH (SEQ ID NO: 43), SLLGKVDGTS (SEQ ID NO: 44), SLLGKVDGT (SEQ ID NO: 45), SLLGKVDG (SEQ ID NO: 46), SLLGKVD (SEQ ID NO: 47), SLLGKV (SEQ ID NO: 48), SLLGK (SEQ ID NO: 49), S(Cha)IGR (SEQ ID NO: 50), S(Cha)LGK (SEQ ID NO: 51), (2,3-diaP)-IGR (SEQ ID NO: 52), (2,3-diaP)LLGK (SEQ ID NO: 53), SLLGKR-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 54), SLIGRR-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 55), S(Cha)LGKK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 56), S(Cha)IGRK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 57), (2,3-diaP)-LIGRK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 58), (2,3-diaP)-LLGKK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 59) and the amidated forms thereof.

B. Antagonists

Compounds of the invention which interfere with activities mediated by the C140 receptor include modified agonist peptides lacking the N-terminal serine residue; and antibodies which are immunoreactive with various critical positions on the C140 receptor.

Peptide Antagonists

The antagonists of the first group--modified agonists--can be represented by the formula:

    X-AA.sub.2 -AA.sub.3 -AA.sub.4 -AA.sub.5 -AA.sub.6 -AA.sub.7 -Z

wherein X is an amino acid residue other than ser, ala, thr, cys, 2,3-diaP or gly or is a desamino or alkylated or acylated amino acid,

wherein AA₂ and AA₃ are each independently neutral/nonpolar/large/nonaromatic amino acids;

AA₄ is a small amino acid;

AA₅ is a basic amino acid;

AA₆ may be present or absent and, if present, is a neutral/nonpolar/large/nonaromatic amino acid;

AA₇ is absent if AA₆ is absent and may be present or absent if AA₆ is present, and is an acidic amino acid; and

Z is a substituent that does not interfere with agonist activity.

Preferred acyl groups are of the formula RCO-- wherein R represents a straight or branched chain alkyl of 1-6C. Acetyl is particularly preferred.

Preferred embodiments of X include residues of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (Mpr), 3-mercaptovaleric acid (Mvl), 2-mercaptobenzoic acid (Mba) and S-methyl-3-mercaptopropionic acid (SMeMpr). Preferred embodiments for AA₂ through AA₇ are as described for the agonists above; Z is also as thus described.

Particularly preferred among the antagonist peptides of this class are those selected from the group consisting of Mpr-LLGK (SEQ ID NO: 9), Mpr-LIGR (SEQ ID NO: 10), Mpr-(Cha)LKG (SEQ ID NO: 11), Mpr-(Cha)IGR (SEQ ID NO: 12), Mpr-LLGKK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 13), Mpr-LIGRK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 14), Mpr-LIGRKETQP-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 15), Mpr-LLGKKDGTS-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 16), (n-pentyl)₂ -N-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-Lys-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 17) and (Me-N-(n-pentyl)-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-Lys-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 18).

Antibodies

Antagonists which are antibodies immunoreactive with critical positions of the C140 receptor are obtained by immunization of suitable mammalian subjects with peptides containing as antigenic regions those portions of the C140 receptor intended to be targeted by the antibodies. Critical regions include the region of proteolytic cleavage, the segment of the extracellular segment critical for activation (this includes the cleavage site), and the portions of the sequence which form the extracellular loops, in particular, that region which interacts with the N-terminus of the activated receptor extracellular region. The agonist peptides of the invention may be used as immunogens in this case.

Thus, peptides which contain the proteolytic region, namely, for example, SKGRSLIGRLET (SEQ ID NO: 19), the extracellular loops, such as those including ISY HLHGNNWVYGEALC (SEQ ID NO: 20); QTIYIPALNITTCHDVLPEEVLVGDMFNYFL (SEQ ID NO: 21); and HYFLIKTQRQSHVYA (SEQ ID NO: 22). The agonist peptides described below are also useful as immunogens.

The antibodies are prepared by immunizing suitable mammalian hosts in appropriate immunization protocols using the peptide haptens alone, if they are of sufficient length, or, if desired, or if required to enhance immunogenicity, conjugated to suitable carriers. Methods for preparing immunogenic conjugates with carriers such as BSA, KLH, or other carrier proteins are well known in the art. In some circumstances, direct conjugation using, for example, carbodiimide reagents may be effective; in other instances linking reagents such as those supplied by Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill., may be desirable to provide accessibility to the hapten. The hapten peptides can be extended at the amino or carboxy terminus with a Cys residue or interspersed with cysteine residues, for example, to facilitate linking to carrier. Administration of the immunogens is conducted generally by injection over a suitable time period and with use of suitable adjuvants, as is generally understood in the art. During the immunization schedule, titers of antibodies are taken to determine adequacy of antibody formation.

While the polyclonal antisera produced in this way may be satisfactory for some applications, for pharmaceutical compositions, use of monoclonal preparations is preferred. Immortalized cell lines which secrete the desired monoclonal antibodies may be prepared using the standard method of Kohler and Milstein or modifications which effect immortalization of lymphocytes or spleen cells, as is generally known. The immortalized cell lines secreting the desired antibodies are screened by immunoassay in which the antigen is the peptide hapten or is the C140 receptor itself displayed on a recombinant host cell. When the appropriate immortalized cell culture secreting the desired antibody is identified, the cells can be cultured either in vitro or by production in ascites fluid.

The desired monoclonal antibodies are then recovered from the culture supernatant or from the ascites supernatant. Fragments of the monoclonals or the polyclonal antisera which contain the immunologically significant portion can be used as antagonists, as well as the intact antibodies. Use of immunologically reactive fragments, such as the Fab, Fab', of F(ab' )₂ fragments is often preferable, especially in a therapeutic context, as these fragments are generally less immunogenic than the whole immunoglobulin.

The antibodies or fragments may also be produced, using current technology, by recombinant means. Regions that bind specifically to the desired regions of receptor can also be produced in the context of chimeras with multiple species origin.

The antibodies thus produced are useful not only as potential antagonists for the receptor, filling the role of antagonist in the assays of the invention, but are also useful in immunoassays for detecting the activated receptor. As such these antibodies can be coupled to imaging agents for administration to a subject to allow detection of localized antibody to ascertain the position of C140 receptors in either activated or unactivated form. In addition, these reagents are useful in vitro to detect, for example, the successful production of the C140 receptor deployed at the surface of the recombinant host cells.

Preparation of Peptide Agonists and Antagonists

The peptide agonists and antagonists of the invention can be prepared using standard solid phase (or solution phase) peptide synthesis methods, as is known in the art. In addition, the DNA encoding these peptides may be synthesized using commercially available oligonucleotide synthesis instrumentation and produced recombinantly using standard recombinant production systems. The production using solid phase peptide synthesis is necessitated if non-gene-encoded amino acids are to be included.

Preparation of C140 Receptor Nucleic Acids

C140 receptor "nucleic acid" is defined as RNA or DNA that encodes a C140 receptor, or is complementary to nucleic acid sequence encoding a C140 receptor, or hybridizes to such nucleic acid and remains stably bound to it under stringent conditions, or encodes a polypeptide sharing at least 75% sequence identity, preferably at least 80%, and more preferably at least 85%, with the translated amino acid sequences shown in FIGS. 3, 10A-10B or 11A-11B. It is typically at least about 10 nucleotides in length and preferably has C140 receptor biological or immunological activity, including the nucleic acid encoding an activation peptide fragment having the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 4. Specifically contemplated are genomic DNA, cDNA, mRNA and antisense molecules, as well as nucleic acids based on alternative backbone or including alternative bases whether derived from natural sources or synthesized. Such hybridizing or complementary nucleic acid, however, is defined further as being novel and unobvious over any prior art nucleic acid including that which encodes, hybridizes under stringent conditions, or is complementary to nucleic acid encoding a known G protein-coupled receptor.

"Stringent conditions" are those that (1) employ low ionic strength and high temperature for washing, for example, 0.015M NaCl/0.0015M sodium titrate/0.1% NaDodSO4 at 50° C., or (2) employ during hybridization a denaturing agent such as formamide, for example, 50% (vol/vol) formamide with 0.1% bovine serum albumin/0.1% Ficoll/0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone/50 mM sodium phosphate buffer at pH 6.5 with 750 mM NaCl, 75 mM sodium citrate at 42° C. Another example is use of 50% formamide, 5 x SSC (0.75M NaCl, 0.075 M sodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 6.8), 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate, 5 x Denhardt's solution, sonicated salmon sperm DNA (50 mu g/ml), 0.1% SDS, and 10% dextran sulfate at 42° C., with washes at 42° C. in 0.2 x SSC and 0.1% SDS.

"Isolated" nucleic acid will be nucleic acid that is identified and separated from contaminant nucleic acid encoding other polypeptides from the source of nucleic acid. The nucleic acid may be labeled for diagnostic and probe purposes, using any label known and described in the art as useful in connection with diagnostic assays.

Of particular interest is a C140 receptor nucleic acid that encodes a full-length molecule, including but not necessarily the native signal sequence thereof. Nucleic acid encoding full-length protein is obtained by screening selected cDNA (not kidney) or genomic libraries using the deduced amino acid sequence disclosed herein for the first time, and, if necessary, using conventional primer extension procedures to secure DNA that is complete at its 5' coding end. Such a clone is readily identified by the presence of a start codon in reading frame with the original sequence.

DNA encoding an amino acid sequence variant of a C140 receptor is prepared as described below or by a variety of methods known in the art. These methods include, but are not limited to, isolation from a natural source (in the case of naturally occurring amino acid sequence variants) or preparation by oligonucleotide-mediated (or site-directed) mutagenesis, PCR mutagenesis, and cassette mutagenesis of an earlier prepared variant or a non-variant version of a C140 receptor.

Techniques for isolating and manipulating nucleic acids are disclosed for example by the following documents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,576, U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,576 and International Patent Publications WO94/11504 and WO93/03162. See, also, Sambrook, J. et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989, and Ausubel, F. M. et al. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 2, Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1987. Disclosures of these documents are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Recombinant Production of C140 Receptor for Use in Assays

The invention provides recombinant materials for the production of C140 receptor for display on the surface of recombinant cells. Production of the receptor using these recombinant methods provides a useful reagent to determine the ability of a candidate drug to bind to, to activate, or to antagonize the C140 receptor. Determination of these properties is essential in evaluating the specificity of drugs intended for binding other related receptors.

For this recombinant production, a DNA sequence encoding the C140 receptor, such as those set forth in FIGS. 1A-1B and 2A-2B, or their substantial equivalents or their degenerate analogs, is prepared either by retrieval of the native sequence, as set forth below, or by using substantial portions of the known native sequence as probe, or can be synthesized de novo using standard procedures. The DNA is ligated into expression vectors suitable for the desired host and transformed into compatible cells. The cells are cultured under conditions which favor the expression of the C140 receptor encoding gene and the cells displaying the receptor on the surface are harvested for use in the assays.

The host cells are typically animal cells, most typically mammalian cells. In order to be useful in the assays, the cells must have intracellular mechanisms which permit the receptor to be displayed on the cell surface in the configuration shown generally in FIG. 4 herein. If the assay uses cellular response to activated receptor as a detection system, the cells must also contain a G-protein linked mechanism for response to activation of the receptors. Most mammalian and other animal cells fulfill these qualifications.

Particularly useful cells for use in the method of the invention are Xenopus laevis frog oocytes, which typically utilize cRNA rather than standard recombinant expression systems proceeding from the DNA encoding the desired protein. Capped RNA (at the 5' end) is typically produced from linearized vectors containing DNA sequences encoding the receptor. The reaction is conducted using RNA polymerase and standard reagents. cRNA is recovered, typically using phenol/chloroform precipitation with ethanol and injected into the oocytes.

The animal host cells expressing the DNA encoding the C140 receptor or the cRNA-injected oocytes are then cultured to effect the expression of the encoding nucleic acids so as to produce the C140 receptor displayed in a manner analogous to that shown in FIG. 4 on their surfaces. These cells then are used directly in assays for assessment of a candidate drug to bind, antagonize, or activate the receptor.

Assays

In one type of easily conducted assay, competition of the candidate drug for binding to the receptor with either agonist or known binding antagonist can be tested. In one method, the competing agonist or antagonist may be labeled; the labeled substance known to bind the receptor can, of course, be a synthetic peptide. In one typical protocol, varying concentrations of the candidate are supplied along with a constant concentration of labeled agonist or antagonist and the inhibition of a binding of label to the receptor can be evaluated using known techniques.

In a somewhat more sophisticated approach, the effect of candidate compounds on agonist-induced responses can be measured in the cells recombinantly expressing the C140 receptor as described below. Assay systems for the effect of activation of receptor on these cells include calcium mobilization and voltage clamp which are described herein in further detail. These assays permit an assessment of the effect of the candidate drug on the receptor activity rather than simply ability to bind to the receptor.

Agonist-induced increases in ⁴⁵ Ca release by oocytes expressing cRNA encoding C140 receptor or other recombinant cells producing C140 receptor are assessed by published techniques (Williams, J. A., et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (1988) 85:4939-4943). Briefly, intracellular calcium pools are labeled by incubating groups of 30 oocytes in 300 μl calcium-free modified Barth's solution (MBSH) containing 50 μCi ⁴⁵ CaCl₂ (10-40 mCi/mg Ca; Amersham) for 4 hours at RT. The labeled oocytes or cells are washed, then incubated in MBSH II without antibiotics for 90 minutes. Groups of 5 oocytes are selected and placed in individual wells in a 24-well tissue culture plate (Falcon 3047) containing 0.5 ml/well MBSH II without antibiotics. This medium is removed and replaced with fresh medium every 10 minutes; the harvested medium is analyzed by scintillation counting to determine ⁴⁵ Ca released by the oocytes during each 10-minute incubation. The 10-minute incubations are continued until a stable baseline of ⁴⁵ Ca release per unit time is achieved. Two additional 10-minute collections are obtained, then test medium including agonist is added and agonist-induced ⁴⁵ Ca release determined.

Using the above assay, the ability of a candidate drug to activate the receptor can be tested directly. In this case, the agonists of the invention are used as controls. In addition, by using the agonist of the invention to activate the recombinant receptor, the effect of the candidate drug on this activation can be tested directly. Recombinant cells expressing the nucleic acids encoding the receptor are incubated in the assay in the presence of agonist with and without the candidate compound. A diminution in activation in the presence of the candidate will indicate an antagonist effect. Conversely, the ability of a candidate drug to reverse the antagonist effects of an antagonist of the invention may also be tested.

In an alternative to measuring calcium mobilization, the voltage clamp assay can be used as a measure for receptor activation. Agonist-induced inward chloride currents are measured in voltage-clamped oocytes expressing C140 receptor encoding cRNA or cells expressing DNA from recombinant expressions systems essentially as previously described (Julius, D., et al, Science (1988) 241:558-563) except that the single electrode voltage-clamp technique is employed.

Detection of Activated Receptors

In one embodiment, the availability of the recombinant C140 receptor protein permits production of antibodies which are immunospecific to the activated form of the receptor which can then be used for diagnostic imaging of activated receptors in vivo. These antibodies are produced either to the activated form of the receptor produced recombinantly, or to the peptide representing the "new amino terminal" peptide described herein. The resulting antibodies, or the immunospecific fragments thereof, such as the Fab, Fab', Fab'₂ fragments are then conjugated to labels which are detected by known methods, such as radiolabels including technetium⁹⁹ and indium¹¹¹ or other radioactive labels as is known in the art. When injected in vivo, these antibodies home to the sites of activated receptor, thus permitting localization of areas containing activated receptors.

In another embodiment, the presence of the activation peptide in body fluids or in culture media can be detected and measured. Antibodies are made to the activation peptide as described above and can be employed in standard ELISA or RIA assays to detect excess amounts of the activation peptide in, for example, urine.

Administration of Agonists and Antagonists as Pharmaceuticals

The peptides of the invention which behave as agonists are administered in conventional formulations for systemic administration as is known in the art. Typical such formulations may be found, for example, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton Pa., latest edition.

Preferred forms of systemic administration of peptides include injection, typically by intravenous injection. Other injection routes, such as subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intraperitoneal, can also be used. More recently, alternative means for systemic administration of peptides have been devised which include transmucosal and transdermal administration using penetrants such as bile salts or fusidic acids or other detergents. In addition, if properly formulated in enteric or encapsulated formulations, oral administration may also be possible. Administration of these compounds may also be topical and/or localized, in the form of salves, pastes, gels and the like.

The dosage range required depends on the choice of peptide, the route of administration, the nature of the formulation, the nature of the patient's condition, and the judgment of the attending physician. Suitable dosage ranges, however, are in the range of 0.1-100 μg/kg of subject. Wide variations in the needed dosage, however, are to be expected in view of the variety of peptides available and the differing efficiencies of various routes of administration. For example, oral administration would be expected to require higher dosages than administration by intravenous injection. Variations in these dosage levels can be adjusted using standard empirical routines for optimization as is well understood in the art.

As shown hereinbelow, the agonists of the invention behave as antihypotensives; antagonists have the opposite effect. Thus, patients whose blood pressure needs to be raised or lowered benefit by the administration of the suitable peptide.

In addition, the agonists have anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties.

Antisense, Triple Helix and Gene Therapy Aspects

The constitutive expression of antisense RNA in cells has been shown to inhibit the expression of about 20 different genes in mammals and plants, and the list continually grows (Hambor, J. E. et al., J. Exp. Med. 168:1237-1245 (1988); Holt, J. T. et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 83:4794-4798 (1986); Izant, J. G. et al., Cell 36:1007-1015 (1984); Izant, J. G., et al., Science 229:345-352 (1985) and De Benedetti, A. et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 84:658-662 (1987)). Possible mechanisms for the antisense effect are the blockage of translation or prevention of splicing, both of which have been observed in vitro. Interference with splicing allows the use of intron sequences (Munroe, S. H., EMBO. J. 7:2523-2532 (1988) which should be less conserved and therefore result in greater specificity in inhibiting expression of a protein of one species but not its homologue in another species.

Therapeutic gene regulation is accomplished using the "antisense" approach, in which the function of a target gene in a cell or organism is blocked, by transfection of DNA, preferably an oligonucleotide, encoding antisense RNA which acts specifically to inhibit expression of the particular target gene. The sequence of the antisense DNA is designed to result in a full or preferably partial antisense RNA transcript which is substantially complementary to a segment of the gene or mRNA which it is intended to inhibit. The complementarity must be sufficient so that the antisense RNA can hybridize to the target gene (or mRNA) and inhibit the target gene's function, regardless of whether the action is at the level of splicing, transcription or translation. The degree of inhibition, readily discernible by one of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation, must be sufficient to inhibit, or render the cell incapable of expressing, the target gene. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the antisense RNA approach is but one of a number of known mechanisms which can be employed to block specific gene expression.

By the term "antisense" is intended an RNA sequence, as well as a DNA sequence coding therefor, which is sufficiently complementary to a particular mRNA molecule for which the antisense RNA is specific to cause molecular hybridization between the antisense RNA and the mRNA such that translation of the mRNA is inhibited. Such hybridization must occur under in vivo conditions, that is, inside the cell. The action of the antisense RNA results in specific inhibition of gene expression in the cell. (See: Albers, B. et al., MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL, 2nd Ed., Garland Publishing, Inc., New York, N.Y. (1989), in particular, pages 195-196.

The antisense RNA of the present invention may be hybridizable to any of several portions of a target mRNA, including the coding sequence, a 3' or 5' untranslated region, or other intronic sequences. A preferred antisense RNA is that complementary to the human C140 receptor mRNA. As is readily discernible by one of skill in the art, the minimal amount of homology required by the present invention is that sufficient to result in hybridization to the specific target mRNA and inhibition of its translation or function while not affecting function of other mRNA molecules and the expression of other genes.

Antisense RNA is delivered to a cell by transformation or transfection with a vector into which has been placed DNA encoding the antisense RNA with the appropriate regulatory sequences, including a promoter, to result in expression of the antisense RNA in a host cell.

"Triple helix" or "triplex" approaches involve production of synthetic oligonucleotides which bind to the major groove of a duplex DNA to form a colinear triplex. Such triplex formation can regulate and inhibit cellular growth. See, for example: Hogan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,996; Cohen, J. S. et al., Sci. Amer., December 1994, p. 76-82; Helene, C., Anticancer Drug Design 6:569-584 (1991); Maher III, L. J. et al., Antisense Res. Devel. 1:227-281 (Fall 1991); Crook, S. T. et al. eds., ANTISENSE RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS, CRC Press, 1993. It is based in part on the discovery that a DNA oligonucleotide can bind by triplex formation to a duplex DNA target in a gene regulatory region, thereby repressing transcription initiation (Cooney M. et. al. (1988) Science 241:456). The present invention utilizes methods such as those of Hogan et al., supra (herein incorporated by reference in its entirety), to designing oligonucleotides which will bind tightly and specifically to a duplex DNA target comprising part of the C140 receptor-encoding DNA or a regulatory sequence thereof. Such triplex oligonucleotides can therefore be used as a class of drug molecules to selectively manipulate the expression of this gene.

Thus the present invention is directed to providing to a cell or administering to a subject a synthetic oligonucleotide in sufficient quantity for cellular uptake and binding to a DNA duplex of the target C140 receptor-coding DNA sequence or a regulatory sequence thereof, such that the oligonucleotide binds to the DNA duplex to form a colinear triplex. This method is used to inhibit expression of the receptor on cells in vitro or in vivo. Preferably the target sequence is positioned within the DNA domain adjacent to the RNA transcription origin. This method can also be used to inhibit growth of cells which is dependent on expression of this receptor. The method may also be used to alter the relative amounts or proportions of the C140 receptor expressed on cells or tissues by administering such a triplex-forming synthetic oligonucleotide.

The following examples are intended to illustrate but not to limit the invention.

Example 1 Isolation of the Gene Encoding Murine C140 Receptor

A mouse cosmid genomic library (obtained from Dr. R. A. Wetsel, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo. and described in Wetsel, R. A. et al., J Biol Chem (1990) 265:2435-2440) was screened with two ³² P-labeled oligonucleotides corresponding to bp 190-249 and 742-801, respectively, of the bovine substance K receptor cDNA (Masu, Y. et al., Nature (1987) 329:836-838). The hybridization conditions are 5×SSC, 5×Denhardt's, 0.1% SDS, 0.1 mg/ml sperm DNA, 10⁶ cpm/ml of labeled oligonucleotides, 60° C. overnight, followed by washing with 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 60° C.

In one of the clones isolated (C140) the hybridizing region was localized to a 3.7 kb PstI fragment. This fragment was subcloned into the commercially available pBluescript vector. The hybridizing and adjacent regions were sequenced in both orientations by the Sanger chain termination method. FIGS. 1A-1B shows both the nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence of the mouse C140 receptor. The tentative signal sequence (SP) and the seven transmembrane regions are overlined, potential asparagine-linked glycosylation sites are marked with bold arrows, and the putative protease receptor cleavage site at Arg34-Ser35 is marked with an open arrow.

Example 2 Isolation of the Gene Encoding Human C140 Receptor

The availability of genomic DNA encoding the mouse protease C140 receptor permitted the retrieval of the corresponding human gene. A human genomic library cloned in the vector EMBL3 was screened at exactly the conditions in Example 1 using the entire coding region of the murine clone as a probe. The recovered human gene including the DNA sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence are shown in FIGS. 2A-2B. Subsequent experiments indicated that the human C140 gene is located in the same region of the long arm of chromosome number 5 (5q12-5q13) as has been reported for the human thrombin receptor gene.

In addition, a 1.1 kb genomic DNA fragment was obtained from Genome Systems Inc., commercial screening service as was PCR-positive with a primer pair that generates a fragment spanning 350-nucleotides of the human C140 protein coding region. A 1.1 kb bamH1 fragment was subcloned and sequenced and found to contain 800-nucleotides of promoter sequence. The promoter lacks both a TATA box and a CAAT box but is rich in G's and C's; features common to promoters of many housekeeping genes. Two binding elements specific for SP1 and AP2 were identified.

Example 3 Comparison of Related G-Protein Receptors

As shown in FIG. 3, the deduced amino acid sequence of the human protease C140 receptor shows extensive similarity (>90%) to the mouse sequence.

FIG. 5 shows an amino acid sequence alignment between the mouse C140 receptor and the related G-protein receptor human thrombin receptor (Vu, T. et al. Cell (1991) 64:1057-1068). The tentative signal sequences (SP), transmembrane regions, and protease cleavage sites are marked.

Example 4 Recovery of Mouse C140 cDNA

A cDNA library from a mouse stomach was constructed in λ gt10 and screened with a probe encompassing the C1040 genomic DNA. A single phage clone was isolated and cut with EcoRI. The insert was cloned into pBluescript and pSG5 and sequenced.

The isolated cDNA was 2732 nucleotides long including a 16 base polyA-stretch; 5' RACE resulted in the addition of only 27 bases to the 5' end. The 5' end of the apparent coding region differs from the 5' end of the open reading frame of genomic DNA; it is believed that the 5' end of the cDNA is correct. The complete nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of murine cDNA encoding C140 is shown in FIG. 10A-10B.

Example 5 Recovery of Human cDNA Encoding C140

A human intestinal tumor cDNA library was subjected to PCR using primers designed from the genomic clone of Example 2 and the amplified fragment was cloned in pSG5 and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence are shown in FIGS. 1A-1B. There are four amino acid differences between the cDNA encoded sequence and that encoded by the genomic DNA as is shown in FIGS. 11A-11B.

Example 6 Activation of Protease C140 Receptor in Oocytes

Both native and mutant C140 receptors were produced in oocytes and activated with a peptide mimicking the new amino-terminus", or by the proteolytic enzyme trypsin (which cleaves the extracellular region). Native receptors were produced by cloning the coding region of the receptor gene, using the polymerase chain reaction, into the expression vector pSG-5 (Green, S. et al., Nucleic Acid Res (1988) 16:369). The orientation and integrity of the cloned coding region was verified by determining the nucleotide sequence with the Sanger chain-termination method. Site-directed mutagenesis was employed to construct mutant receptors in the pSG-5. Three mutant receptors were made, in which serine-35 was replaced with proline, arginine, and histidine, respectively. The nucleotide sequences of the three mutants was verified as above.

In order to produce the receptor at the surface of oocytes, cRNA encoding the receptor was produced as follows. pSG-5 C140 plasmid DNA was made linear by digestion with XbaI, and capped cRNA was produced in vitro using T7 RNA polymerase (Krieg and Melton, Meth Enzymol (1987) 155:397-415, which reference is hereby incorporateds by reference in its entirety).

Oocytes from Xenopus laevis were harvested and prepared using published techniques (Coleman, A., in Hames, B. D., and Higgins, S. J., eds, Transcription and Translation: A Practical Approach, IRL Press, pp. 271-302; Williams, J. A., et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (1988) 85:4939-4943]. To remove follicular cells, oocytes were incubated for 1.5 h with shaking in calcium-free Barth's containing 2 mg/ml each of collagenase 1A and hyaluronidase 1S. The oocytes were then washed five times in regular Barth's and incubated at 18° C. in Barth's medium containing 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin, and 2.5 mM sodium pyruvate. Stage V oocytes were selected and injected with 30 nl of cRNA (0.33 μg/μl water) or water alone, and then incubated with 0.25 ml of medium in groups of four/well in a 96-well culture plate. After 36 hours the oocytes were incubated with ⁴⁵ Ca (250 μCi/ml). After 12 h incubation the oocytes were washed and 0.2 ml of medium added and replaced every five minutes. The harvested medium was analyzed by scintillation counting. After five replacements to determine the baseline release of ⁴⁵ Ca, test medium with the agonist, e.g. SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 23), was added and the evoked ⁴⁵ Ca-release determined.

Oocytes were injected with capped cRNA (ca 10 ng) encoding wild-type mouse C140 receptor (WT) or either of the three mutant receptors 35Pro, 35Arg and 35His. After 36 hours, cRNA-injected and control water-injected, oocytes were loaded with ⁴⁵ Ca, and 12 hours thereafter peptide or trypsin-induced ⁴⁵ Ca release were determined as described above. The peptide SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 23) was added at 100 μM, and trypsin at 300 pM. The stimulation with the peptide was done on the same group of oocytes after the stimulation with trypsin. The data shown in Table 1 represent the mean of three replicate determinations, and denotes the increase compared to oocytes injected with water.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Receptor Agonist         Fold increase in .sup.45 Ca                           ______________________________________                                         WT       Trypsin         6.6                                                     35Pro    Trypsin                  0                                            35Arg    Trypsin                  0                                            35His    Trypsin                  0                                            WT       SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 23)  11                                            35Pro    SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 23)  23                                            35Arg    SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 23)  15                                            35His    SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 23)  23                                          ______________________________________                                    

As shown in Table 1, the agonist peptide SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 23) was able to activate both the wild-type and mutated receptors. On the other hand, trypsin, which can activate only by cleavage of the extracellular domain, is able only to activate the wild-type receptor.

Example 7 Activation of the C140 Receptor by Different Agonist Peptides

Various peptides were tested at 100 μM in the assay above using wild-type mouse C140 receptor, expressed in oocytes. The results are shown in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Peptide          Fold Increase in 45Ca                                         ______________________________________                                         SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 23)                                                                          15                                                              SLIGRA (SEQ ID NO: 24)        8.5                                              SLIGAL (SEQ ID NO: 25)        0                                                SLIARL (SEQ ID NO: 26)        4.3                                              SLAGRL (SEQ ID NC: 27)        0                                                SAIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 28)        0                                                ALIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 29)        1.3                                              SFFLRW (SEQ ID NO: 30)        1.7                                            ______________________________________                                    

The "native" peptide SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 23) is most effective; replacing L at position 6 with alanine lowers but does not destroy activity. Positions 2 and 3 are more sensitive. Position 1 tolerates substitution with alanine but decreases the activity by a factor of 10; the activity of this agonist is comparable to the analogous thrombin receptor agonist SFFLRW (SEQ ID NO: 30).

Example 8 Expression of C140 Receptor in Various Tissues

Poly(A)+RNA was prepared from mouse tissues, resolved on a 1.2% agarose gel containing 50% formamide and blotted onto Hybond C extra membrane (Amersham). The blot was hybridized with a ³² P-labeled "random priming probe" directed against the whole coding region of murine C140 receptor. The probe was hybridized at 42° C. for 48 hr then successively washed at 20° C. in 1 X SSC, 0.1% SDS twice, 5 min each time, then at 65° C. in 1 X SSC, again twice for 20 min each time, and then 0.1 X SSC, 0.1% SDS twice for 20 min each time. The resulting membrane was autoradiographed for 5 days at -80° C. with an intensifying screen.

The results, shown in FIG. 6 indicate that kidney and small intestine, but not spleen, contain mRNA encoding C140. In FIG. 6, where each lane contains 10 μg RNA, lane A is derived from spleen, lane B from kidney and lane C from small intestine.

Example 9 Expression of C140 Transcripts In Mice

In situ hybridization using ³⁵ S RNA probes was used to localize C140 transcripts in mouse embryogenesis and in adult mouse tissues. A strong signal was found in the gastrointestinal tract at 11.5 days; at 14 days there was strong hybridization to epithelial structures in the nasopharynx, stomach-intestine, skin and endothelial cells in larger vessels. There was some hybridization in the liver and sclerotoma but no signal in muscle or CNS. At 17 days, the signals in the sclerotoma had disappeared and additional epithelial structures showed hybridization including the esophagus, kidney glomeruli, lung, hair follicles and epidermis.

In newborns, the signals found at 17 days were retained and additional signals were found in the thymic medulla and kidney medulla. Adults showed transcripts in the mucosa of stomach, intestine and colon, white pulp of the spleen, thymus and kidney medulla. Again, there were no signals in the CNS, liver, lung or adrenal gland. FIG. 12 shows the results of in situ hybridization in a sectioned newborn mouse using these probes.

Example 10 Expression of C140 Transcripts In Human Tissues

FIG. 13 shows the results of a Northern blot of total RNA from human cell lines hybridized to a human C140 receptor probe. Ten mg of total RNA was used. Hybridization was obtained in RNA from stomach (lane 1), Ca-Co-2 cells (lane 2); HT-29 cells (lane 3), A498 cells (lane 5), 5637 cells (lane 8); skin keratinocytes (lane 12), and HUVEC (lanes 13 and 14). No hybridization was detected in HuTu80 cells, J82 cells, MCF-7, HeLa or NCI 12 cells (lanes 4, 6, 9 and 10).

Example 11 Determination of Hypotensive Activity of C140 Agonists

The C140 agonist SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 23) was injected in 0.2 ml buffer at various concentrations into rat femoral vein and the arterial pressure was monitored. The results of various concentrations are shown in FIG. 7.

The trace in FIG. 7 shows that even at 0.1 mM an appreciable decrease in blood pressure occurred; larger decreases were observed at 1 mM concentration.

This effect was also shown by observing vasodilation as a result of stimulation of the rat femoral vein with the above agonist. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were killed by exsanguination during diethylether anesthesia and the femoral vein was removed and dissected free from fat and connective tissue. Circular preparations of the vein were mounted in an organ bath (5 ml) on two L-formed metal holders (0.2 mm diameter). One of the metal holders was screwed into one of the levers of a Grass FTO C force displacement transducer. The bathing liquid was Kreb's Ringer solution containing 118 mM NaCl, 4.7 mM KCl, 2.5 mM CaCl₂, 1.2 MM MgSO₄, 24.8 mM NaHCO₃, 1.2 mM KH₂ PO₄ and 5.6 mM glucose. The bathing fluid was continuously treated with 88.5% oxygen-11.5% CO₂ ; the temperature was held at 37° C. The endothelium was removed by bubbling CO₂ through the vessels. The basal tension was between 7.5 and 12 mN. The preparations were equilibrated for at least 1 hr before application of agonist and control substances.

The results of these determinations are shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b. As shown in FIG. 8a, contraction induced by application of PGF₂α at 3×10⁻⁵ M is relaxed by administration of 10⁻⁵ M agonist. The results in FIG. 8a were obtained using the vein with the endothelium still present.

In FIG. 8b, the endothelium has been removed. In an analogous experiment, the contraction induced by 3×10⁻⁵ M PGF₂α is not counteracted by 10⁻⁵ M agonist or by 10⁻⁵ M acetylcholine.

Example 12 Activation of Recombinant C140 Receptor by Plasmin and Kallikrein

FIGS. 9a and 9b show the ability of plasmin and kallikrein respectively to activate oocytes injected with C140 cRNA (open circles) or water (crosses) as control. FIG. 9c shows the ability of trypsin to activate frog oocytes injected with C140 receptor cRNA (filled circles) or substance K receptor cRNA (open circles). Trypsin clearly has a differential effect on the C140 receptor-injected oocytes.

All references cited and mentioned above, including patents, journal articles and texts, are all incorporated by reference herein, whether expressly incorporated or not.

Having now fully described this invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the same can be performed within a wide range of equivalent parameters, concentrations, and conditions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without undue experimentation.

While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth as follows in the scope of the appended claims.

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                    - -  - - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                              - -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 63                                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1475 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 232..1416                                               - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: mat.sub.-- - #peptide                                            (B) LOCATION: 232                                                     - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                - - CCCTGTCAGT CTTAAGATTC TAGAAGTCGC TGTCCTATAC GGAACCCAAA AC -             #TCTCACTG     60                                                                  - - TTAATGAAAT ACCATTGTCG GGGCGAAGAT GTAGCTCAGT GGTAAAATAC TT -             #GCCAGCAC    120                                                                  - - ACACAAGAAT TAGACTTCAA CCGTCACCAA CTGCCCTGTG TAGGACGGTC GG -             #TCACTGAA    180                                                                  - - AGAGAATATT GTCTGCAATA CTCTAATGAC ATCTGTCTGT GTTCATCTGA A - #ATG         TTC     237                                                                                        - #                  - #                  - #   Met        Phe                                                                                                - #                  - #                  - #     1          - - CAT TTA AAA CAC AGC AGC CTT ACT GTT GGA CC - #A TTT ATC TCA GTA ATG           285                                                                        His Leu Lys His Ser Ser Leu Thr Val Gly Pr - #o Phe Ile Ser Val Met                      5        - #          10        - #          15                       - - ATT CTG CTC CGC TTT CTT TGT ACA GGA CGC AA - #C AAC AGT AAA GGA AGA           333                                                                        Ile Leu Leu Arg Phe Leu Cys Thr Gly Arg As - #n Asn Ser Lys Gly Arg                 20             - #     25             - #     30                           - - AGT CTT ATT GGC AGA TTA GAA ACC CAG CCT CC - #A ATC ACT GGG AAA GGG           381                                                                        Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu Glu Thr Gln Pro Pr - #o Ile Thr Gly Lys Gly             35                 - # 40                 - # 45                 - # 50        - - GTT CCG GTA GAA CCA GGC TTT TCC ATC GAT GA - #G TTC TCT GCG TCC ATC           429                                                                        Val Pro Val Glu Pro Gly Phe Ser Ile Asp Gl - #u Phe Ser Ala Ser Ile                             55 - #                 60 - #                 65               - - CTC ACC GGG AAG CTG ACC ACG GTC TTT CTT CC - #G GTC GTC TAC ATT ATT           477                                                                        Leu Thr Gly Lys Leu Thr Thr Val Phe Leu Pr - #o Val Val Tyr Ile Ile                         70     - #             75     - #             80                   - - GTG TTT GTG ATT GGT TTG CCC AGT AAT GGC AT - #G GCC CTC TGG ATC TTC           525                                                                        Val Phe Val Ile Gly Leu Pro Ser Asn Gly Me - #t Ala Leu Trp Ile Phe                     85         - #         90         - #         95                       - - CTT TTC CGA ACG AAG AAG AAA CAC CCC GCC GT - #G ATT TAC ATG GCC AAC           573                                                                        Leu Phe Arg Thr Lys Lys Lys His Pro Ala Va - #l Ile Tyr Met Ala Asn                100              - #   105              - #   110                           - - CTG GCC TTG GCC GAC CTC CTC TCT GTC ATC TG - #G TTC CCC CTG AAG ATC           621                                                                        Leu Ala Leu Ala Asp Leu Leu Ser Val Ile Tr - #p Phe Pro Leu Lys Ile            115                 1 - #20                 1 - #25                 1 -       #30                                                                               - - TCC TAC CAC CTA CAT GGC AAC AAC TGG GTC TA - #C GGG GAG GCC CTG         TGC      669                                                                     Ser Tyr His Leu His Gly Asn Asn Trp Val Ty - #r Gly Glu Ala Leu Cys                           135  - #               140  - #               145               - - AAG GTG CTC ATT GGC TTT TTC TAT GGT AAC AT - #G TAT TGC TCC ATC CTC           717                                                                        Lys Val Leu Ile Gly Phe Phe Tyr Gly Asn Me - #t Tyr Cys Ser Ile Leu                        150      - #           155      - #           160                   - - TTC ATG ACC TGC CTC AGC GTG CAG AGG TAC TG - #G GTG ATC GTG AAC CCC           765                                                                        Phe Met Thr Cys Leu Ser Val Gln Arg Tyr Tr - #p Val Ile Val Asn Pro                    165          - #       170          - #       175                       - - ATG GGA CAC CCC AGG AAG AAG GCA AAC ATC GC - #C GTT GGC GTC TCC TTG           813                                                                        Met Gly His Pro Arg Lys Lys Ala Asn Ile Al - #a Val Gly Val Ser Leu                180              - #   185              - #   190                           - - GCA ATC TGG CTC CTG ATT TTT CTG GTC ACC AT - #C CCT TTG TAT GTC ATG           861                                                                        Ala Ile Trp Leu Leu Ile Phe Leu Val Thr Il - #e Pro Leu Tyr Val Met            195                 2 - #00                 2 - #05                 2 -       #10                                                                               - - AAG CAG ACC ATC TAC ATT CCA GCA TTG AAC AT - #C ACC ACC TGT CAC         GAT      909                                                                     Lys Gln Thr Ile Tyr Ile Pro Ala Leu Asn Il - #e Thr Thr Cys His Asp                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - GTG CTG CCT GAG GAG GTA TTG GTG GGG GAC AT - #G TTC AAT TAC TTC CTC           957                                                                        Val Leu Pro Glu Glu Val Leu Val Gly Asp Me - #t Phe Asn Tyr Phe Leu                        230      - #           235      - #           240                   - - TCA CTG GCC ATT GGA GTC TTC CTG TTC CCG GC - #C CTC CTT ACT GCA TCT          1005                                                                        Ser Leu Ala Ile Gly Val Phe Leu Phe Pro Al - #a Leu Leu Thr Ala Ser                    245          - #       250          - #       255                       - - GCC TAC GTG CTC ATG ATC AAG ACG CTC CGC TC - #T TCT GCT ATG GAT GAA          1053                                                                        Ala Tyr Val Leu Met Ile Lys Thr Leu Arg Se - #r Ser Ala Met Asp Glu                260              - #   265              - #   270                           - - CAC TCA GAG AAC AAA AGG CAG AGG GCT ATC CG - #A CTC ATC ATC ACC GTG          1101                                                                        His Ser Glu Asn Lys Arg Gln Arg Ala Ile Ar - #g Leu Ile Ile Thr Val            275                 2 - #80                 2 - #85                 2 -       #90                                                                               - - CTG GCC ATG TAC TTC ATC TGC TTT GCT CCT AG - #C AAC CTT CTG CTC         GTA     1149                                                                     Leu Ala Met Tyr Phe Ile Cys Phe Ala Pro Se - #r Asn Leu Leu Leu Val                           295  - #               300  - #               305               - - GTG CAT TAT TTC CTA ATC AAA ACC CAG AGG CA - #G AGC CAC GTC TAC GCC          1197                                                                        Val His Tyr Phe Leu Ile Lys Thr Gln Arg Gl - #n Ser His Val Tyr Ala                        310      - #           315      - #           320                   - - CTC TAC CTT GTC GCC CTC TGC CTG TCG ACC CT - #C AAC AGC TGC ATA GAC          1245                                                                        Leu Tyr Leu Val Ala Leu Cys Leu Ser Thr Le - #u Asn Ser Cys Ile Asp                    325          - #       330          - #       335                       - - CCC TTT GTC TAT TAC TTT GTC TCA AAA GAT TT - #C AGG GAT CAC GCC AGA          1293                                                                        Pro Phe Val Tyr Tyr Phe Val Ser Lys Asp Ph - #e Arg Asp His Ala Arg                340              - #   345              - #   350                           - - AAC GCG CTC CTC TGC CGA AGT GTC CGC ACT GT - #G AAT CGC ATG CAA ATC          1341                                                                        Asn Ala Leu Leu Cys Arg Ser Val Arg Thr Va - #l Asn Arg Met Gln Ile            355                 3 - #60                 3 - #65                 3 -       #70                                                                               - - TCG CTC AGC TCC AAC AAG TTC TCC AGG AAG TC - #C GGC TCC TAC TCT         TCA     1389                                                                     Ser Leu Ser Ser Asn Lys Phe Ser Arg Lys Se - #r Gly Ser Tyr Ser Ser                           375  - #               380  - #               385               - - AGC TCA ACC AGT GTT AAA ACC TCC TAC TGAGCTGTA - #C CTGAGGATGT                1436                                                                        Ser Ser Thr Ser Val Lys Thr Ser Tyr                                                        390      - #           395                                          - - CAAGCCTGCT TGATGATGAT GATGATGATG GTGTGTGTG      - #                       - #  1475                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 395 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                - - Met Phe His Leu Lys His Ser Ser Leu Thr Va - #l Gly Pro Phe Ile Ser         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Val Met Ile Leu Leu Arg Phe Leu Cys Thr Gl - #y Arg Asn Asn Ser Lys                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Gly Arg Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu Glu Thr Gl - #n Pro Pro Ile Thr Gly                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Lys Gly Val Pro Val Glu Pro Gly Phe Ser Il - #e Asp Glu Phe Ser Ala            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Ser Ile Leu Thr Gly Lys Leu Thr Thr Val Ph - #e Leu Pro Val Val Tyr        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Ile Ile Val Phe Val Ile Gly Leu Pro Ser As - #n Gly Met Ala Leu Trp                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Ile Phe Leu Phe Arg Thr Lys Lys Lys His Pr - #o Ala Val Ile Tyr Met                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Ala Asn Leu Ala Leu Ala Asp Leu Leu Ser Va - #l Ile Trp Phe Pro Leu               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Lys Ile Ser Tyr His Leu His Gly Asn Asn Tr - #p Val Tyr Gly Glu Ala           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Leu Cys Lys Val Leu Ile Gly Phe Phe Tyr Gl - #y Asn Met Tyr Cys Ser       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Ile Leu Phe Met Thr Cys Leu Ser Val Gln Ar - #g Tyr Trp Val Ile         Val                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Asn Pro Met Gly His Pro Arg Lys Lys Ala As - #n Ile Ala Val Gly Val                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Ser Leu Ala Ile Trp Leu Leu Ile Phe Leu Va - #l Thr Ile Pro Leu Tyr               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Val Met Lys Gln Thr Ile Tyr Ile Pro Ala Le - #u Asn Ile Thr Thr Cys           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - His Asp Val Leu Pro Glu Glu Val Leu Val Gl - #y Asp Met Phe Asn Tyr       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Phe Leu Ser Leu Ala Ile Gly Val Phe Leu Ph - #e Pro Ala Leu Leu         Thr                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Ala Ser Ala Tyr Val Leu Met Ile Lys Thr Le - #u Arg Ser Ser Ala Met                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Asp Glu His Ser Glu Asn Lys Arg Gln Arg Al - #a Ile Arg Leu Ile Ile               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Thr Val Leu Ala Met Tyr Phe Ile Cys Phe Al - #a Pro Ser Asn Leu Leu           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Leu Val Val His Tyr Phe Leu Ile Lys Thr Gl - #n Arg Gln Ser His Val       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Tyr Ala Leu Tyr Leu Val Ala Leu Cys Leu Se - #r Thr Leu Asn Ser         Cys                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Ile Asp Pro Phe Val Tyr Tyr Phe Val Ser Ly - #s Asp Phe Arg Asp His                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Ala Arg Asn Ala Leu Leu Cys Arg Ser Val Ar - #g Thr Val Asn Arg Met               355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - Gln Ile Ser Leu Ser Ser Asn Lys Phe Ser Ar - #g Lys Ser Gly Ser Tyr           370              - #   375              - #   380                           - - Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser Val Lys Thr Ser Ty - #r                           385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                             - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1255 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 56..1249                                                - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: mat.sub.-- - #peptide                                            (B) LOCATION: 56                                                      - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                - - CGCTCCAGGC CTGGGTGACA GCGAGACCCT GTCTCATAAA TTAAAAAATG AA - #TAA         ATG      58                                                                                        - #                  - #                  - #              Met                                                                                                - #                  - #                  - #                - - AAT GTA CTT TCA TTT GAA CAA ACC AGT GTT AC - #T GCT GAA ACA TTT ATT           106                                                                        Asn Val Leu Ser Phe Glu Gln Thr Ser Val Th - #r Ala Glu Thr Phe Ile                          5    - #              10    - #              15                   - - TCT GTA ATG ACC CTT GTC TTC CTT TCT TGT AC - #A GGA ACC AAT AGA TCC           154                                                                        Ser Val Met Thr Leu Val Phe Leu Ser Cys Th - #r Gly Thr Asn Arg Ser                     20         - #         25         - #         30                       - - TCT AAA GGA AGA AGC CTT ATT GGT AAG GTT GA - #T GGC ACA TCC CAC GTC           202                                                                        Ser Lys Gly Arg Ser Leu Ile Gly Lys Val As - #p Gly Thr Ser His Val                 35             - #     40             - #     45                           - - ACT GGA AAA GGA GTT ACA GTT GAA ACA GTC TT - #T TCT GTG GAT GAG TTT           250                                                                        Thr Gly Lys Gly Val Thr Val Glu Thr Val Ph - #e Ser Val Asp Glu Phe             50                 - # 55                 - # 60                 - # 65        - - TCT GCA TCT GTC CTC ACT GGA AAA CTG ACC AC - #T GTC TTC CTT CCA ATT           298                                                                        Ser Ala Ser Val Leu Thr Gly Lys Leu Thr Th - #r Val Phe Leu Pro Ile                             70 - #                 75 - #                 80               - - GTC TAC ACA ATT GTG TTT GTG GTG GGT TTG CC - #A AGT AAC GGC ATG GCC           346                                                                        Val Tyr Thr Ile Val Phe Val Val Gly Leu Pr - #o Ser Asn Gly Met Ala                         85     - #             90     - #             95                   - - CTG TGG GTC TTT CTT TTC CGA ACT AAG AAG AA - #G CAC CCT GCT GTG ATT           394                                                                        Leu Trp Val Phe Leu Phe Arg Thr Lys Lys Ly - #s His Pro Ala Val Ile                    100          - #       105          - #       110                       - - TAC ATG GCC AAT CTG GCC TTG GCT GAC CTC CT - #C TCT GTC ATC TGG TTC           442                                                                        Tyr Met Ala Asn Leu Ala Leu Ala Asp Leu Le - #u Ser Val Ile Trp Phe                115              - #   120              - #   125                           - - CCC TTG AAG ATT GCC TAT CAC ATA CAT GGC AA - #C AAC TGG ATT TAT GGG           490                                                                        Pro Leu Lys Ile Ala Tyr His Ile His Gly As - #n Asn Trp Ile Tyr Gly            130                 1 - #35                 1 - #40                 1 -       #45                                                                               - - GAA GCT CTT TGT AAT GTG CTT ATT GGC TTT TT - #C TAT GGC AAC ATG         TAC      538                                                                     Glu Ala Leu Cys Asn Val Leu Ile Gly Phe Ph - #e Tyr Gly Asn Met Tyr                           150  - #               155  - #               160               - - TGT TCC ATT CTC TTC ATG ACC TGC CTC AGT GT - #G CAG AGG TAT TGG GTC           586                                                                        Cys Ser Ile Leu Phe Met Thr Cys Leu Ser Va - #l Gln Arg Tyr Trp Val                        165      - #           170      - #           175                   - - ATC GTG AAC CCC ATG GGG CAC TCC AGG AAG AA - #G GCA AAC ATT GCC ATT           634                                                                        Ile Val Asn Pro Met Gly His Ser Arg Lys Ly - #s Ala Asn Ile Ala Ile                    180          - #       185          - #       190                       - - GGC ATC TCC CTG GCA ATA TGG CTG CTG ATT CT - #G CTG GTC ACC ATC CCT           682                                                                        Gly Ile Ser Leu Ala Ile Trp Leu Leu Ile Le - #u Leu Val Thr Ile Pro                195              - #   200              - #   205                           - - TTG TAT GTC GTG AAG CAG ACC ATC TTC ATT CC - #T GCC CTG AAC ATC ACG           730                                                                        Leu Tyr Val Val Lys Gln Thr Ile Phe Ile Pr - #o Ala Leu Asn Ile Thr            210                 2 - #15                 2 - #20                 2 -       #25                                                                               - - ACC TGT CAT GAT GTT TTG CCT GAG CAG CTC TT - #G GTG GGA GAC ATG         TTC      778                                                                     Thr Cys His Asp Val Leu Pro Glu Gln Leu Le - #u Val Gly Asp Met Phe                           230  - #               235  - #               240               - - AAT TAC TTC CTC TCT CTG GCC ATT GGG GTC TT - #T CTG TTC CCA GCC TTC           826                                                                        Asn Tyr Phe Leu Ser Leu Ala Ile Gly Val Ph - #e Leu Phe Pro Ala Phe                        245      - #           250      - #           255                   - - CTC ACA GCC TCT GCC TAT GTG CTG ATG ATC AG - #A ATG CTG CGA TCT TCT           874                                                                        Leu Thr Ala Ser Ala Tyr Val Leu Met Ile Ar - #g Met Leu Arg Ser Ser                    260          - #       265          - #       270                       - - GCC ATG GAT GAA AAC TCA GAG AAG AAA AGG AA - #G AGG GCC ATC AAA CTC           922                                                                        Ala Met Asp Glu Asn Ser Glu Lys Lys Arg Ly - #s Arg Ala Ile Lys Leu                275              - #   280              - #   285                           - - ATT GTC ACT GTC CTG GCC ATG TAC CTG ATC TG - #C TTC ACT CCT AGT AAC           970                                                                        Ile Val Thr Val Leu Ala Met Tyr Leu Ile Cy - #s Phe Thr Pro Ser Asn            290                 2 - #95                 3 - #00                 3 -       #05                                                                               - - CTT CTG CTT GTG GTG CAT TAT TTT CTG ATT AA - #G AGC CAG GGC CAG         AGC     1018                                                                     Leu Leu Leu Val Val His Tyr Phe Leu Ile Ly - #s Ser Gln Gly Gln Ser                           310  - #               315  - #               320               - - CAT GTC TAT GCC CTG TAC ATT GTA GCC CTC TG - #C CTC TCT ACC CTT AAC          1066                                                                        His Val Tyr Ala Leu Tyr Ile Val Ala Leu Cy - #s Leu Ser Thr Leu Asn                        325      - #           330      - #           335                   - - AGC TGC ATC GAC CCC TTT GTC TAT TAC TTT GT - #T TCA CAT GAT TTC AGG          1114                                                                        Ser Cys Ile Asp Pro Phe Val Tyr Tyr Phe Va - #l Ser His Asp Phe Arg                    340          - #       345          - #       350                       - - GAT CAT GCA AAG AAC GCT CTC CTT TGC CGA AG - #T GTC CGC ACT GTA AAG          1162                                                                        Asp His Ala Lys Asn Ala Leu Leu Cys Arg Se - #r Val Arg Thr Val Lys                355              - #   360              - #   365                           - - CAG ATG CAA GTA TCC CTC ACC TCA AAG AAA CA - #C TCC AGG AAA TCC AGC          1210                                                                        Gln Met Gln Val Ser Leu Thr Ser Lys Lys Hi - #s Ser Arg Lys Ser Ser            370                 3 - #75                 3 - #80                 3 -       #85                                                                               - - TCT TAC TCT TCA AGT TCA ACC ACT GTT AAG AC - #C TCC TAT TGAGTT               1255                                                                       Ser Tyr Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Thr Val Lys Th - #r Ser Tyr                                        390  - #               395                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 398 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                - - Met Asn Val Leu Ser Phe Glu Gln Thr Ser Va - #l Thr Ala Glu Thr Phe         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ile Ser Val Met Thr Leu Val Phe Leu Ser Cy - #s Thr Gly Thr Asn Arg                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Ser Ser Lys Gly Arg Ser Leu Ile Gly Lys Va - #l Asp Gly Thr Ser His                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Val Thr Gly Lys Gly Val Thr Val Glu Thr Va - #l Phe Ser Val Asp Glu            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Phe Ser Ala Ser Val Leu Thr Gly Lys Leu Th - #r Thr Val Phe Leu Pro        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Ile Val Tyr Thr Ile Val Phe Val Val Gly Le - #u Pro Ser Asn Gly Met                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Ala Leu Trp Val Phe Leu Phe Arg Thr Lys Ly - #s Lys His Pro Ala Val                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Ile Tyr Met Ala Asn Leu Ala Leu Ala Asp Le - #u Leu Ser Val Ile Trp               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Phe Pro Leu Lys Ile Ala Tyr His Ile His Gl - #y Asn Asn Trp Ile Tyr           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Gly Glu Ala Leu Cys Asn Val Leu Ile Gly Ph - #e Phe Tyr Gly Asn Met       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Tyr Cys Ser Ile Leu Phe Met Thr Cys Leu Se - #r Val Gln Arg Tyr         Trp                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Val Ile Val Asn Pro Met Gly His Ser Arg Ly - #s Lys Ala Asn Ile Ala                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Ile Gly Ile Ser Leu Ala Ile Trp Leu Leu Il - #e Leu Leu Val Thr Ile               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Pro Leu Tyr Val Val Lys Gln Thr Ile Phe Il - #e Pro Ala Leu Asn Ile           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Thr Thr Cys His Asp Val Leu Pro Glu Gln Le - #u Leu Val Gly Asp Met       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Phe Asn Tyr Phe Leu Ser Leu Ala Ile Gly Va - #l Phe Leu Phe Pro         Ala                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Phe Leu Thr Ala Ser Ala Tyr Val Leu Met Il - #e Arg Met Leu Arg Ser                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Ser Ala Met Asp Glu Asn Ser Glu Lys Lys Ar - #g Lys Arg Ala Ile Lys               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Leu Ile Val Thr Val Leu Ala Met Tyr Leu Il - #e Cys Phe Thr Pro Ser           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Asn Leu Leu Leu Val Val His Tyr Phe Leu Il - #e Lys Ser Gln Gly Gln       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Ser His Val Tyr Ala Leu Tyr Ile Val Ala Le - #u Cys Leu Ser Thr         Leu                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Asn Ser Cys Ile Asp Pro Phe Val Tyr Tyr Ph - #e Val Ser His Asp Phe                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Arg Asp His Ala Lys Asn Ala Leu Leu Cys Ar - #g Ser Val Arg Thr Val               355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - Lys Gln Met Gln Val Ser Leu Thr Ser Lys Ly - #s His Ser Arg Lys Ser           370              - #   375              - #   380                           - - Ser Ser Tyr Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Thr Val Ly - #s Thr Ser Tyr               385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                             - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 395 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                - -      Met Phe His Leu Lys His Ser Ser - # Leu Thr Val Gly Pro Phe         Ile Ser                                                                               1             - #  5                - #   10               - #          15                                                                                - -      Val Met Ile Leu Leu Arg Phe Leu - # Cys Thr Gly Arg Asn Asn        Ser Lys                                                                                           20 - #                 25 - #                 30              - -      Gly Arg Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu - # Glu Thr Gln Pro Pro Ile         Thr Gly                                                                                       35     - #             40     - #             45                   - -      Lys Gly Val Pro Val Glu Pro Gly - # Phe Ser Ile Asp Glu Phe        Ser Ala                                                                                   50         - #         55         - #         60                       - -      Ser Ile Leu Thr Gly Lys Leu Thr - # Thr Val Phe Leu Pro Val        Val Tyr                                                                               65             - #     70             - #     75             - #          80                                                                             - -      Ile Ile Val Phe Val Ile Gly Leu - # Pro Ser Asn Gly Met Ala         Leu Trp                                                                                            - #   85               - #   90               - #          95                                                                                - -      Ile Phe Leu Phe Arg Thr Lys Lys - # Lys His Pro Ala Val Ile        Tyr Met                                                                                           100 - #                105 - #                110             - -      Ala Asn Leu Ala Leu Ala Asp Leu - # Leu Ser Val Ile Trp Phe         Pro Leu                                                                                       115     - #            120     - #            125                  - -      Lys Ile Ser Tyr His Leu His Gly - # Asn Asn Trp Val Tyr Gly        Glu Ala                                                                                   130         - #        135         - #        140                      - -      Leu Cys Lys Val Leu Ile Gly Phe - # Phe Tyr Gly Asn Met Tyr        Cys Ser                                                                               145             - #    150             - #    155             - #         160                                                                            - -      Ile Leu Phe Met Thr Cys Leu Ser - # Val Gln Arg Tyr Trp Val         Ile Val                                                                                            - #   165              - #   170              - #          175                                                                               - -      Asn Pro Met Gly His Pro Arg Lys - # Lys Ala Asn Ile Ala Val        Gly Val                                                                                           180 - #                185 - #                190             - -      Ser Leu Ala Ile Trp Leu Leu Ile - # Phe Leu Val Thr Ile Pro         Leu Tyr                                                                                       195     - #            200     - #            205                  - -      Val Met Lys Gln Thr Ile Tyr Ile - # Pro Ala Leu Asn Ile Thr        Thr Cys                                                                                   210         - #        215         - #        220                      - -      His Asp Val Leu Pro Glu Glu Val - # Leu Val Gly Asp Met Phe        Asn Tyr                                                                               225             - #    230             - #    235             - #         240                                                                            - -      Phe Leu Ser Leu Ala Ile Gly Val - # Phe Leu Phe Pro Ala Leu         Leu Thr                                                                                            - #   245              - #   250              - #          255                                                                               - -      Ala Ser Ala Tyr Val Leu Met Ile - # Lys Thr Leu Arg Ser Ser        Ala Met                                                                                           260 - #                265 - #                270             - -      Asp Glu His Ser Glu Lys Lys Arg - # Gln Arg Ala Ile Arg Leu         Ile Ile                                                                                       275     - #            280     - #            285                  - -      Thr Val Leu Ala Met Tyr Phe Ile - # Cys Phe Ala Pro Ser Asn        Leu Leu                                                                                   290         - #        295         - #        300                      - -      Leu Val Val His Tyr Phe Leu Ile - # Lys Thr Gln Arg Gln Ser        His Val                                                                               305             - #    310             - #    315             - #         320                                                                            - -      Tyr Ala Leu Tyr Leu Val Ala Leu - # Cys Leu Ser Thr Leu Asn         Ser Cys                                                                                            - #   325              - #   330              - #          335                                                                               - -      Ile Asp Pro Phe Val Tyr Tyr Phe - # Val Ser Lys Asp Phe Arg        Asp His                                                                                           340 - #                345 - #                350             - -      Ala Arg Asn Ala Leu Leu Cys Arg - # Ser Val Arg Thr Val Asn         Arg Met                                                                                       355     - #            360     - #            365                  - -      Gln Ile Ser Leu Ser Ser Asn Lys - # Phe Ser Arg Lys Ser Cys        Ser Tyr                                                                                   370         - #        375         - #        380                      - -      Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser Val Lys - # Thr Ser Tyr                           385             - #    390             - #    395                          - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 398 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                - -      Met Asn Val Leu Ser Phe Glu Gln - # Thr Ser Val Thr Ala Glu        Thr Phe                                                                               1             - #  5                - #   10               - #          15                                                                                - -      Ile Ser Val Met Ile Leu Val Phe - # Leu Ser Cys Thr Gly Thr        Asn Arg                                                                                           20 - #                 25 - #                 30              - -      Ser Ser Lys Gly Arg Ser Leu Ile - # Gly Lys Val Asp Gly Thr         Ser His                                                                                       35     - #             40     - #             45                   - -      Val Thr Gly Lys Gly Val Ile Val - # Glu Ile Val Phe Ser Val        Asp Glu                                                                                   50         - #         55         - #         60                       - -      Phe Ser Ala Ser Val Leu Thr Gly - # Lys Leu Thr Thr Val Phe        Leu Pro                                                                               65             - #     70             - #     75             - #          80                                                                             - -      Ile Val Tyr Ile Ile Val Phe Val - # Val Gly Leu Pro Ser Asn         Gly Met                                                                                            - #   85               - #   90               - #          95                                                                                - -      Ala Leu Trp Val Phe Leu Phe Arg - # Thr Lys Lys Lys His Pro        Ala Val                                                                                           100 - #                105 - #                110             - -      Ile Tyr Met Ala Asn Leu Ala Leu - # Ala Asp Leu Leu Ser Val         Ile Trp                                                                                       115     - #            120     - #            125                  - -      Phe Pro Leu Lys Ile Ala Tyr His - # Ile His Gly Asn Asn Trp        Ile Tyr                                                                                   130         - #        135         - #        140                      - -      Gly Glu Ala Leu Cys Asn Val Leu - # Ile Gly Phe Phe Tyr Gly        Asn Met                                                                               145             - #    150             - #    155             - #         160                                                                            - -      Tyr Cys Ser Ile Leu Phe Met Thr - # Cys Leu Ser Val Gln Arg         Tyr Trp                                                                                            - #   165              - #   170              - #          175                                                                               - -      Val Ile Val Asn Pro Met Gly His - # Ser Arg Lys Lys Ala Asn        Ile Ala                                                                                           180 - #                185 - #                190             - -      Ile Gly Ile Ser Leu Ala Ile Trp - # Leu Leu Ile Leu Leu Val         Thr Ile                                                                                       195     - #            200     - #            205                  - -      Pro Leu Tyr Val Val Lys Gln Thr - # Ile Phe Ile Pro Ala Leu        Asn Ile                                                                                   210         - #        215         - #        220                      - -      Thr Thr Cys His Asp Val Leu Pro - # Glu Gln Val Leu Val Gly        Asp Met                                                                               225             - #    230             - #    235             - #         240                                                                            - -      Phe Asn Tyr Phe Leu Ser Leu Ala - # Ile Gly Val Phe Leu Phe         Pro Ala                                                                                            - #   245              - #   250              - #          255                                                                               - -      Phe Leu Thr Ala Ser Ala Tyr Val - # Leu Met Ile Arg Met Leu        Arg Ser                                                                                           260 - #                265 - #                270             - -      Ser Ala Met Asp Glu Asn Ser Glu - # Lys Lys Arg Lys Arg Ala         Ile Lys                                                                                       275     - #            280     - #            285                  - -      Leu Ile Val Thr Val Leu Ala Met - # Tyr Leu Ile Cys Phe Ile        Pro Ser                                                                                   290         - #        295         - #        300                      - -      Asn Leu Leu Leu Val Val His Tyr - # Phe Leu Ile Lys Ser Gln        Gly Gln                                                                               305             - #    310             - #    315             - #         320                                                                            - -      Ser His Val Tyr Ala Leu Tyr Ile - # Val Ala Leu Cys Leu Ser         Thr Leu                                                                                            - #   325              - #   330              - #          335                                                                               - -      Asn Ser Cys Ile Asp Pro Phe Val - # Tyr Tyr Phe Val Ser His        Asp Phe                                                                                           340 - #                345 - #                350             - -      Arg Asp His Ala Lys Asn Ala Leu - # Leu Cys Arg Ser Val Arg         Thr Val                                                                                       355     - #            360     - #            365                  - -      Lys Gln Met Gln Val Ser Leu Ile - # Ser Lys Lys His Ser Arg        Lys Ser                                                                                   370         - #        375         - #        380                      - -      Ser Ser Tyr Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr - # Ile Val Lys Thr Ser Tyr              385             - #    390             - #    395                          - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 425 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:                                - -      Met Gly Pro Arg Arg Leu Leu Leu - # Val Ala Ala Cys Phe Ser         Leu Cys                                                                               1             - #  5                - #   10               - #          15                                                                                - -      Gly Phe Leu Leu Ser Ala Arg Thr - # Arg Ala Arg Arg Pro Glu        Ser Lys                                                                                           20 - #                 25 - #                 30              - -      Ala Thr Asn Ala Thr Leu Asp Pro - # Arg Ser Phe Leu Leu Arg         Asn Pro                                                                                       35     - #             40     - #             45                   - -      Asn Asp Lys Tyr Glu Pro Phe Trp - # Glu Asp Glu Glu Lys Asn        Glu Ser                                                                                   50         - #         55         - #         60                       - -      Gly Leu Thr Glu Tyr Arg Leu Val - # Ser Ile Asn Lys Ser Ser        Pro Leu                                                                               65             - #     70             - #     75             - #          80                                                                             - -      Gln Lys Gln Leu Pro Ala Phe Ile - # Ser Glu Asp Ala Ser Gly         Tyr Leu                                                                                            - #   85               - #   90               - #          95                                                                                - -      Thr Ser Ser Trp Leu Thr Leu Phe - # Val Pro Ser Val Tyr Thr        Gly Val                                                                                           100 - #                105 - #                110             - -      Phe Val Val Ser Leu Pro Leu Asn - # Ile Met Ala Ile Val Val         Phe Ile                                                                                       115     - #            120     - #            125                  - -      Leu Lys Met Lys Val Lys Lys Pro - # Ala Val Val Tyr Met Leu        His Leu                                                                                   130         - #        135         - #        140                      - -      Ala Thr Ala Asp Val Leu Phe Val - # Ser Val Leu Pro Phe Lys        Ile Ser                                                                               145             - #    150             - #    155             - #         160                                                                            - -      Tyr Tyr Phe Ser Gly Ser Asp Trp - # Gln Phe Gly Ser Glu Leu         Cys Arg                                                                                            - #   165              - #   170              - #          175                                                                               - -      Phe Val Thr Ala Ala Phe Tyr Cys - # Asn Met Tyr Ala Ser Ile        Leu Leu                                                                                           180 - #                185 - #                190             - -      Met Thr Val Ile Ser Ile Asp Arg - # Phe Leu Ala Val Val Tyr         Pro Met                                                                                       195     - #            200     - #            205                  - -      Gln Ser Leu Ser Trp Arg Thr Leu - # Gly Arg Ala Ser Phe Thr        Cys Leu                                                                                   210         - #        215         - #        220                      - -      Ala Ile Trp Ala Leu Ala Ile Ala - # Gly Val Val Pro Leu Val        Leu Lys                                                                               225             - #    230             - #    235             - #         240                                                                            - -      Glu Gln Thr Ile Gln Val Pro Gly - # Leu Asn Ile Thr Thr Cys         His Asp                                                                                            - #   245              - #   250              - #          255                                                                               - -      Val Leu Asn Glu Thr Leu Leu Glu - # Gly Tyr Tyr Ala Tyr Tyr        Phe Ser                                                                                           260 - #                265 - #                270             - -      Ala Phe Ser Ala Val Phe Phe Phe - # Val Pro Leu Ile Ile Ser         Thr Val                                                                                       275     - #            280     - #            285                  - -      Cys Tyr Val Ser Ile Ile Arg Cys - # Leu Ser Ser Ser Ala Val        Ala Asn                                                                                   290         - #        295         - #        300                      - -      Arg Ser Lys Lys Ser Arg Ala Leu - # Phe Leu Ser Ala Ala Val        Phe Cys                                                                               305             - #    310             - #    315             - #         320                                                                            - -      Ile Phe Ile Ile Cys Phe Gly Pro - # Thr Asn Val Leu Leu Ile         Ala His                                                                                            - #   325              - #   330              - #          335                                                                               - -      Tyr Ser Phe Leu Ser His Thr Ser - # Thr Thr Glu Ala Ala Tyr        Phe Ala                                                                                           340 - #                345 - #                350             - -      Tyr Leu Leu Cys Val Cys Val Ser - # Ser Ile Ser Ser Cys Ile         Asp Pro                                                                                       355     - #            360     - #            365                  - -      Leu Ile Tyr Tyr Tyr Ala Ser Ser - # Glu Cys Gln Arg Tyr Val        Tyr Ser                                                                                   370         - #        375         - #        380                      - -      Ile Leu Cys Cys Lys Glu Ser Ser - # Asp Pro Ser Ser Tyr Asn        Ser Ser                                                                               385             - #    390             - #    395             - #         400                                                                            - -      Gly Gln Leu Met Ala Ser Lys Met - # Asp Thr Cys Ser Ser Asn         Leu Asn                                                                                            - #   405              - #   410              - #          415                                                                               - -      Asn Ser Ile Tyr Lys Lys Leu Leu - # Thr                                               420 - #                425                                     - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 7 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:                                - -      Arg Asn Asn Ser Lys Gly Arg                                               1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is Mpr =                           3-mercaptopr - #opionic acid."                                   - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:                                - -      Xaa Leu Leu Gly Lys                                                       1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is Mpr =                            3-mercaptopr - #opionic acid."                                   - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:                               - -      Xaa Leu Ile Gly Arg                                                       1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is Mpr =                            3-mercaptopr - #opionic acid."                                   - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 2                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is Cha =                            cyclohexylal - #anine."                                          - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:                               - -      Xaa Xaa Leu Lys Gly                                                       1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is Mpr =                            3-mercaptopr - #opionic acid."                                   - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 2                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is (Cha) =                          cyclohexylal - #anine."                                          - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:                               - -      Xaa Xaa Ile Gly Arg                                                       1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is Mpr =                            3-mercaptopr - #opionic acid."                                   - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:                               - -      Xaa Leu Leu Gly Lys Lys                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is Mpr =                            3-mercaptopr - #opionic acid."                                   - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:                               - -      Xaa Leu Ile Gly Arg Lys                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 10 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is Mpr =                            3-mercaptopr - #opionic acid."                                   - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:                               - -      Xaa Leu Ile Gly Arg Lys Glu Thr - # Gln Pro                               1             - #  5                - #   10                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 10 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is Mpr =                            3-mercaptopr - #opionic acid."                                   - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:                               - -      Xaa Leu Leu Gly Lys Lys Asp Gly - # Thr Ser                               1             - #  5                - #   10                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is                                  (n-pentyl)2- - #N-Leu."                                          - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:                               - -      Xaa Ile Gly Arg Lys                                                       1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is                                  (Me-N-(n-pen - #tyl)."                                           - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:                               - -      Xaa Leu Ile Gly Arg Lys                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 12 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:                               - -      Ser Lys Gly Arg Ser Leu Ile Gly - # Arg Leu Glu Thr                       1             - #  5                - #   10                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 17 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:                               - -      Ile Ser Tyr His Leu His Gly Asn - # Asn Trp Val Tyr Gly Glu         Ala Leu                                                                               1             - #  5                - #   10               - #          15                                                                                - -      Cys                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 31 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:                               - -      Gln Thr Ile Tyr Ile Pro Ala Leu - # Asn Ile Thr Thr Cys His        Asp Val                                                                               1             - #  5                - #   10               - #          15                                                                                - -      Leu Pro Glu Glu Val Leu Val Gly - # Asp Met Phe Asn Tyr Phe        Leu                                                                                               20 - #                 25 - #                 30              - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 15 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:                               - -      His Tyr Phe Leu Ile Lys Thr Gln - # Arg Gln Ser His Val Tyr         Ala                                                                                   1             - #  5                - #   10               - #          15                                                                                - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Ala                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:25:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Ala Leu                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:26:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:26:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Ala Arg Leu                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:27:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:27:                               - -      Ser Leu Ala Gly Arg Leu                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:28:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:28:                               - -      Ser Ala Ile Gly Arg Leu                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:29:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:29:                               - -      Ala Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:30:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:30:                               - -      Ser Phe Phe Leu Arg Trp                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:31:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 8 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:31:                               - -      Arg Asn Asn Ser Ser Lys Gly Arg                                           1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:32:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 13 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:32:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu Glu Thr - # Gln Pro Pro Ile Thr                  1             - #  5                - #   10                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:33:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 12 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:33:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu Glu Thr - # Gln Pro Pro Ile                       1             - #  5                - #   10                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:34:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 11 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:34:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu Glu Thr - # Gln Pro Pro                           1             - #  5                - #   10                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:35:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 10 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:35:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu Glu Thr - # Gln Pro                               1             - #  5                - #   10                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:36:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 9 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:36:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu Glu Thr - # Gln                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:37:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 8 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:37:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu Glu Thr                                           1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:38:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 7 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:38:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu Glu                                               1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:39:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:39:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:40:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:40:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg                                                       1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:41:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 13 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:41:                               - -      Ser Leu Leu Gly Lys Val Asp Gly - # Thr Ser His Val Thr                   1             - #  5                - #   10                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:42:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 12 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:42:                               - -      Ser Leu Leu Gly Lys Val Asp Gly - # Thr Ser His Val                       1             - #  5                - #   10                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:43:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 11 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:43:                               - -      Ser Leu Leu Gly Lys Val Asp Gly - # Thr Ser His                           1             - #  5                - #   10                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:44:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 10 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:44:                               - -      Ser Leu Leu Gly Lys Val Asp Gly - # Thr Ser                               1             - #  5                - #   10                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:45:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 9 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:45:                               - -      Ser Leu Leu Gly Lys Val Asp Gly - # Thr                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:46:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 8 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:46:                               - -      Ser Leu Leu Gly Lys Val Asp Gly                                           1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:47:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 7 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:47:                               - -      Ser Leu Leu Gly Lys Val Asp                                               1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:48:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:48:                               - -      Ser Leu Leu Gly Lys Val                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:49:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:49:                               - -      Ser Leu Leu Gly Lys                                                       1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:50:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 2                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is (Cha) =                          cyclohexylal - #anine."                                          - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:50:                               - -      Ser Xaa Ile Gly Arg                                                       1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:51:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 2                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is (Cha) =                          cyclohexylal - #anine."                                          - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:51:                               - -      Ser Xaa Leu Gly Lys                                                       1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:52:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 4 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is                                  (2,3-diaP) - #= 2,3-diamino propionic."                          - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:52:                               - -      Xaa Ile Gly Arg                                                           1                                                                          - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:53:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is                                  (2,3-diaP) - #= 2,3-diamino propionic."                          - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:53:                               - -      Xaa Leu Leu Gly Lys                                                       1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:54:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:54:                               - -      Ser Leu Leu Gly Lys Arg                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:55:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:55:                               - -      Ser Leu Ile Gly Arg Arg                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:56:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 2                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is (Cha) =                          cyclohexylal - #anine."                                          - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:56:                               - -      Ser Xaa Leu Gly Lys Lys                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:57:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 2                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is (Cha) =                          cyclohexylal - #anine."                                          - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:57:                               - -      Ser Xaa Ile Gly Arg Lys                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:58:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is                                  (2,3-diaP) - #= 2,3-diamino propionic."                          - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:58:                               - -      Xaa Leu Ile Gly Arg Lys                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:59:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6 amino - #acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: Modified-sit - #e                                                (B) LOCATION: 1                                                                (D) OTHER INFORMATION: - #/note= "This position is                                  (2,3-diaP) - #= 2,3-diamino propionic."                          - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:59:                               - -      Xaa Leu Leu Gly Lys Lys                                                   1             - #  5                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:60:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 2732 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 73..1269                                                - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:60:                               - - CCCTGTGCTC AGAGTAGGGC TCCGAGTTTC GAACCACTGG TGGCGGATTG CC -              #CGCCCGCC     60                                                                  - - CCACGTCCGG GG ATG CGA AGT CTC AGC CTG GCG TGG - # CTG CTG GGA GGT             108                                                                                     Met Arg Se - #r Leu Ser Leu Ala Trp Leu Leu Gly Gly                              1  - #             5     - #             10                     - - ATC ACC CTT CTG GCG GCC TCG GTC TCC TGC AG - #C CGG ACC GAG AAC CTT           156                                                                        Ile Thr Leu Leu Ala Ala Ser Val Ser Cys Se - #r Arg Thr Glu Asn Leu                     15         - #         20         - #         25                       - - GCA CCG GGA CGC AAC AAC AGT AAA GGA AGA AG - #T CTT ATT GGC AGA TTA           204                                                                        Ala Pro Gly Arg Asn Asn Ser Lys Gly Arg Se - #r Leu Ile Gly Arg Leu                 30             - #     35             - #     40                           - - GAA ACC CAG CCT CCA ATC ACT GGG AAA GGG GT - #T CCG GTA GAA CCA GGC           252                                                                        Glu Thr Gln Pro Pro Ile Thr Gly Lys Gly Va - #l Pro Val Glu Pro Gly             45                 - # 50                 - # 55                 - # 60        - - TTT TCC ATC GAT GAG TTC TCT GCG TCC ATC CT - #C ACC GGG AAG CTG ACC           300                                                                        Phe Ser Ile Asp Glu Phe Ser Ala Ser Ile Le - #u Thr Gly Lys Leu Thr                             65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - ACG GTC TTT CTT CCG GTC GTC TAC ATT ATT GT - #G TTT GTG ATT GGT TTG           348                                                                        Thr Val Phe Leu Pro Val Val Tyr Ile Ile Va - #l Phe Val Ile Gly Leu                         80     - #             85     - #             90                   - - CCC AGT AAT GGC ATG GCC CTC TGG ATC TTC CT - #T TTC CGA ACG AAG AAG           396                                                                        Pro Ser Asn Gly Met Ala Leu Trp Ile Phe Le - #u Phe Arg Thr Lys Lys                     95         - #        100         - #        105                       - - AAA CAC CCC GCC GTG ATT TAC ATG GCC AAC CT - #G GCC TTG GCC GAC CTC           444                                                                        Lys His Pro Ala Val Ile Tyr Met Ala Asn Le - #u Ala Leu Ala Asp Leu                110              - #   115              - #   120                           - - CTC TCT GTC ATC TGG TTC CCC CTG AAG ATC TC - #C TAC CAC CTA CAT GGC           492                                                                        Leu Ser Val Ile Trp Phe Pro Leu Lys Ile Se - #r Tyr His Leu His Gly            125                 1 - #30                 1 - #35                 1 -       #40                                                                               - - AAC AAC TGG GTC TAC GGG GAG GCC CTG TGC AA - #G GTG CTC ATT GGC         TTT      540                                                                     Asn Asn Trp Val Tyr Gly Glu Ala Leu Cys Ly - #s Val Leu Ile Gly Phe                           145  - #               150  - #               155               - - TTC TAT GGT AAC ATG TAT TGC TCC ATC CTC TT - #C ATG ACC TGC CTC AGC           588                                                                        Phe Tyr Gly Asn Met Tyr Cys Ser Ile Leu Ph - #e Met Thr Cys Leu Ser                        160      - #           165      - #           170                   - - GTG CAG AGG TAC TGG GTG ATC GTG AAC CCC AT - #G GGA CAC CCC AGG AAG           636                                                                        Val Gln Arg Tyr Trp Val Ile Val Asn Pro Me - #t Gly His Pro Arg Lys                    175          - #       180          - #       185                       - - AAG GCA AAC ATC GCC GTT GGC GTC TCC TTG GC - #A ATC TGG CTC CTG ATT           684                                                                        Lys Ala Asn Ile Ala Val Gly Val Ser Leu Al - #a Ile Trp Leu Leu Ile                190              - #   195              - #   200                           - - TTT CTG GTC ACC ATC CCT TTG TAT GTC ATG AA - #G CAG ACC ATC TAC ATT           732                                                                        Phe Leu Val Thr Ile Pro Leu Tyr Val Met Ly - #s Gln Thr Ile Tyr Ile            205                 2 - #10                 2 - #15                 2 -       #20                                                                               - - CCA GCA TTG AAC ATC ACC ACC TGT CAC GAT GT - #G CTG CCT GAG GAG         GTA      780                                                                     Pro Ala Leu Asn Ile Thr Thr Cys His Asp Va - #l Leu Pro Glu Glu Val                           225  - #               230  - #               235               - - TTG GTG GGG GAC ATG TTC AAT TAC TTC CTC TC - #A CTG GCC ATT GGA GTC           828                                                                        Leu Val Gly Asp Met Phe Asn Tyr Phe Leu Se - #r Leu Ala Ile Gly Val                        240      - #           245      - #           250                   - - TTC CTG TTC CCG GCC CTC CTT ACT GCA TCT GC - #C TAC GTG CTC ATG ATC           876                                                                        Phe Leu Phe Pro Ala Leu Leu Thr Ala Ser Al - #a Tyr Val Leu Met Ile                    255          - #       260          - #       265                       - - AAG ACG CTC CGC TCT TCT GCT ATG GAT GAA CA - #C TCA GAG AAG AAA AGG           924                                                                        Lys Thr Leu Arg Ser Ser Ala Met Asp Glu Hi - #s Ser Glu Lys Lys Arg                270              - #   275              - #   280                           - - CAG AGG GCT ATC CGA CTC ATC ATC ACC GTG CT - #G GCC ATG TAC TTC ATC           972                                                                        Gln Arg Ala Ile Arg Leu Ile Ile Thr Val Le - #u Ala Met Tyr Phe Ile            285                 2 - #90                 2 - #95                 3 -       #00                                                                               - - TGC TTT GCT CCT AGC AAC CTT CTG CTC GTA GT - #G CAT TAT TTC CTA         ATC     1020                                                                     Cys Phe Ala Pro Ser Asn Leu Leu Leu Val Va - #l His Tyr Phe Leu Ile                           305  - #               310  - #               315               - - AAA ACC CAG AGG CAG AGC CAC GTC TAC GCC CT - #C TAC CTT GTC GCC CTC          1068                                                                        Lys Thr Gln Arg Gln Ser His Val Tyr Ala Le - #u Tyr Leu Val Ala Leu                        320      - #           325      - #           330                   - - TGC CTG TCG ACC CTC AAC AGC TGC ATA GAC CC - #C TTT GTC TAT TAC TTT          1116                                                                        Cys Leu Ser Thr Leu Asn Ser Cys Ile Asp Pr - #o Phe Val Tyr Tyr Phe                    335          - #       340          - #       345                       - - GTC TCA AAA GAT TTC AGG GAT CAC GCC AGA AA - #C GCG CTC CTC TGC CGA          1164                                                                        Val Ser Lys Asp Phe Arg Asp His Ala Arg As - #n Ala Leu Leu Cys Arg                350              - #   355              - #   360                           - - AGT GTC CGC ACT GTG AAT CGC ATG CAA ATC TC - #G CTC AGC TCC AAC AAG          1212                                                                        Ser Val Arg Thr Val Asn Arg Met Gln Ile Se - #r Leu Ser Ser Asn Lys            365                 3 - #70                 3 - #75                 3 -       #80                                                                               - - TTC TCC AGG AAG TCC GGC TCC TAC TCT TCA AG - #C TCA ACC AGT GTT         AAA     1260                                                                     Phe Ser Arg Lys Ser Gly Ser Tyr Ser Ser Se - #r Ser Thr Ser Val Lys                           385  - #               390  - #               395               - - ACC TCC TAC TGAGCTGTAC CTGAGGATGT CAAGCCTGCT TGATGATGA - #T                  1309                                                                        Thr Ser Tyr                                                                     - - GATGATGATG GTGTGTGTGT GTGTGTGTGT GTGTGTGTGT GTGTGTGTGT GC -              #ACCCGTGT   1369                                                                  - - GTGAGTGCGT GGTAGGGATA CACCAACATG GATGGGGCTG TCATTTCCTA TC -             #CAAGCTGT   1429                                                                  - - CTGTCTCTGC ACCAATCACA AGCATGCAGC TCTCCCCAGG ATTGACAGAA GC -             #CTCCTCCT   1489                                                                  - - TTGCATGAGA ACAGTCTTCC ACTCTGATGA AAAGCATCAG TATCAGAAAC TG -             #AAACGAAC   1549                                                                  - - TGAGAGGAGC TTGTTTTGTG AAAGTGAAGA GAAGATGGAG GGTCAGTGAC TT -             #GCAAAAAA   1609                                                                  - - AACCAACCAA ACAAAAACTA CACCTGGCAA GAAGGCTAAG ACTCTCTGAA AT -             #GCTTCCCT   1669                                                                  - - TTTCCATCTG GAGTTCGTCT CGGCCTTGTT CAGGACCTGA GGCCCTGGTA GA -             #GCTTCAGT   1729                                                                  - - CCAGTTGATT GACTTTACAG ACTTGAGAGA GGAGTGAATG AGGAGTGAAT GA -             #GGCTCCTG   1789                                                                  - - GCGGCATCCT AACCGGCTAA CAGTGGCCTT GCTGGACAAT AGGATTCAGA TG -             #GCTGGAGT   1849                                                                  - - TACATTCTCA CACCATTTCA TCAGAACTAT TGGGGATCTT GATCAATGTG CA -             #GGTCCCTT   1909                                                                  - - AGCGTCAGTA ACCCTGGGAG CTCAGACACG ATGGGGGTGA GGGTGGGGGT GG -             #GGGTGGGG   1969                                                                  - - GTGAGGCTCT ACAAACCTTA GTGATGACTG CAGACACAGA ACCATGGAGC TG -             #AGCCTGCT   2029                                                                  - - TCTGCTTGCC AGGGCACCAC TGTAATGTTG GCAAAGAAAA ACCAACAGCA GT -             #GTTTTGAG   2089                                                                  - - CCTCTTTTTT TGGTCAGTTT ATGATGAATT TGCCTATTGG TTTATTGGGA TT -             #TTCAGTTC   2149                                                                  - - CTTTATTACT TTGTTGTAAT TTTGTGTGTT TATTAGTCAA GAAAAAGAAG AT -             #GAGGCTCT   2209                                                                  - - TAAAAATGTA AATAAAATTT TTGGTTTTTT GGTTTTTTAA CTTGGGCCAA CT -             #ACAAATAC   2269                                                                  - - TGCTTAGGTT TTTTTCTAAC TTAATTGTTA ACTACATCAT GTGAACTTAA GA -             #CATTTTCA   2329                                                                  - - TGATAAAGCA TTACTGTAGT GTCAGTTTTC CCTCATCCTC GATCATAGTC CT -             #TCCCGTGA   2389                                                                  - - AGCAGGGCCC TTCCCCTCCC CCCCCTTTGC CGTTTCCCTC CCCACCAGAT AG -             #TCCCCCTG   2449                                                                  - - TCTGCTTTAA CCTACCAGTT AGTATTTTAT AAAAACAGAT CATTGGAATA TT -             #TATTATCA   2509                                                                  - - GTTTTGTTCA CTTGTTATCA GTTTTGTTCA CTAATTTGTC CAATAATGGA AT -             #TAACGTCT   2569                                                                  - - TCTCATCTGT TTGAGGAAGA TCTGAAACAA GGGGCCATTG CAGGAGTACA TG -             #GCTCCAGG   2629                                                                  - - CTTACTTTAT ATACTGCCTG TATTTGTGGC TTTAAAAAAA TGACCTTGTT AT -             #ATGAATGC   2689                                                                  - - TTTATAAATA AATAATGCAT GAACTTTAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAA    - #                      273 - #2                                                                     - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:61:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 399 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:61:                               - - Met Arg Ser Leu Ser Leu Ala Trp Leu Leu Gl - #y Gly Ile Thr Leu Leu         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ala Ala Ser Val Ser Cys Ser Arg Thr Glu As - #n Leu Ala Pro Gly Arg                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Asn Asn Ser Lys Gly Arg Ser Leu Ile Gly Ar - #g Leu Glu Thr Gln Pro                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Pro Ile Thr Gly Lys Gly Val Pro Val Glu Pr - #o Gly Phe Ser Ile Asp            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Glu Phe Ser Ala Ser Ile Leu Thr Gly Lys Le - #u Thr Thr Val Phe Leu        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Pro Val Val Tyr Ile Ile Val Phe Val Ile Gl - #y Leu Pro Ser Asn Gly                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Met Ala Leu Trp Ile Phe Leu Phe Arg Thr Ly - #s Lys Lys His Pro Ala                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Val Ile Tyr Met Ala Asn Leu Ala Leu Ala As - #p Leu Leu Ser Val Ile               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Trp Phe Pro Leu Lys Ile Ser Tyr His Leu Hi - #s Gly Asn Asn Trp Val           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Tyr Gly Glu Ala Leu Cys Lys Val Leu Ile Gl - #y Phe Phe Tyr Gly Asn       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Met Tyr Cys Ser Ile Leu Phe Met Thr Cys Le - #u Ser Val Gln Arg         Tyr                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Trp Val Ile Val Asn Pro Met Gly His Pro Ar - #g Lys Lys Ala Asn Ile                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Ala Val Gly Val Ser Leu Ala Ile Trp Leu Le - #u Ile Phe Leu Val Thr               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Ile Pro Leu Tyr Val Met Lys Gln Thr Ile Ty - #r Ile Pro Ala Leu Asn           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Ile Thr Thr Cys His Asp Val Leu Pro Glu Gl - #u Val Leu Val Gly Asp       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Met Phe Asn Tyr Phe Leu Ser Leu Ala Ile Gl - #y Val Phe Leu Phe         Pro                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Ala Leu Leu Thr Ala Ser Ala Tyr Val Leu Me - #t Ile Lys Thr Leu Arg                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Ser Ser Ala Met Asp Glu His Ser Glu Lys Ly - #s Arg Gln Arg Ala Ile               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Arg Leu Ile Ile Thr Val Leu Ala Met Tyr Ph - #e Ile Cys Phe Ala Pro           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Ser Asn Leu Leu Leu Val Val His Tyr Phe Le - #u Ile Lys Thr Gln Arg       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Gln Ser His Val Tyr Ala Leu Tyr Leu Val Al - #a Leu Cys Leu Ser         Thr                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Leu Asn Ser Cys Ile Asp Pro Phe Val Tyr Ty - #r Phe Val Ser Lys Asp                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Phe Arg Asp His Ala Arg Asn Ala Leu Leu Cy - #s Arg Ser Val Arg Thr               355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - Val Asn Arg Met Gln Ile Ser Leu Ser Ser As - #n Lys Phe Ser Arg Lys           370              - #   375              - #   380                           - - Ser Gly Ser Tyr Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser Va - #l Lys Thr Ser Tyr           385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                             - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:62:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1414 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 50..1240                                                - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: mat.sub.-- - #peptide                                            (B) LOCATION: 50                                                      - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:62:                               - - CAAAGAATTG TAATACGACT CACTATAGGG CGAATTCGGA TCCAGGAGG ATG - # CGG              55                                                                                          - #                  - #                  - #Met Arg                           - #                  - #                  - #  1              - - AGC CCC AGC GCG GCG TGG CTG CTG GGG GCC GC - #C ATC CTG CTA GCA GCC           103                                                                        Ser Pro Ser Ala Ala Trp Leu Leu Gly Ala Al - #a Ile Leu Leu Ala Ala                      5        - #          10        - #          15                       - - TCT CTC TCC TGC AGT GGC ACC ATC CAA GGA AC - #C AAT AGA TCC TCT AAA           151                                                                        Ser Leu Ser Cys Ser Gly Thr Ile Gln Gly Th - #r Asn Arg Ser Ser Lys                 20             - #     25             - #     30                           - - GGA AGA AGC CTT ATT GGT AAG GTT GAT GGC AC - #A TCC CAC GTC ACT GGA           199                                                                        Gly Arg Ser Leu Ile Gly Lys Val Asp Gly Th - #r Ser His Val Thr Gly             35                 - # 40                 - # 45                 - # 50        - - AAA GGA GTT ACA GTT GAA ACA GTC TTT TCT GT - #G GAT GAG TTT TCT GCA           247                                                                        Lys Gly Val Thr Val Glu Thr Val Phe Ser Va - #l Asp Glu Phe Ser Ala                             55 - #                 60 - #                 65               - - TCT GTC CTC GCT GGA AAA CTG ACC ACT GTC TT - #C CTT CCA ATT GTC TAC           295                                                                        Ser Val Leu Ala Gly Lys Leu Thr Thr Val Ph - #e Leu Pro Ile Val Tyr                         70     - #             75     - #             80                   - - ACA ATT GTG TTT GCG GTG GGT TTG CCA AGT AA - #C GGC ATG GCC CTA TGG           343                                                                        Thr Ile Val Phe Ala Val Gly Leu Pro Ser As - #n Gly Met Ala Leu Trp                     85         - #         90         - #         95                       - - GTC TTT CTT TTC CGA ACT AAG AAG AAG CAC CC - #T GCT GTG ATT TAC ATG           391                                                                        Val Phe Leu Phe Arg Thr Lys Lys Lys His Pr - #o Ala Val Ile Tyr Met                100              - #   105              - #   110                           - - GCC AAT CTG GCC TTG GCT GAC CTC CTC TCT GT - #C ATC TGG TTC CCC TTG           439                                                                        Ala Asn Leu Ala Leu Ala Asp Leu Leu Ser Va - #l Ile Trp Phe Pro Leu            115                 1 - #20                 1 - #25                 1 -       #30                                                                               - - AAG ATT GCC TAT CAC ATA CAT GGC AAC AAC TG - #G ATT TAT GGG GAA         GCT      487                                                                     Lys Ile Ala Tyr His Ile His Gly Asn Asn Tr - #p Ile Tyr Gly Glu Ala                           135  - #               140  - #               145               - - CTT TGT AAT GTG CTT ATT GGC TTT TTC TAT CG - #C AAC ATG TAC TGT TCC           535                                                                        Leu Cys Asn Val Leu Ile Gly Phe Phe Tyr Ar - #g Asn Met Tyr Cys Ser                        150      - #           155      - #           160                   - - ATT CTC TTC ATG ACC TGC CTC AGT GTG CAG AG - #G TAT TGG GTC ATC GTG           583                                                                        Ile Leu Phe Met Thr Cys Leu Ser Val Gln Ar - #g Tyr Trp Val Ile Val                    165          - #       170          - #       175                       - - AAC CCC ATG GGG CAC TCC AGG AAG AAG GCA AA - #C ATT GCC ATT GGC ATC           631                                                                        Asn Pro Met Gly His Ser Arg Lys Lys Ala As - #n Ile Ala Ile Gly Ile                180              - #   185              - #   190                           - - TCC CTG GCA ATA TGG CTG CTG ACT CTG CTG GT - #C ACC ATC CCT TTG TAT           679                                                                        Ser Leu Ala Ile Trp Leu Leu Thr Leu Leu Va - #l Thr Ile Pro Leu Tyr            195                 2 - #00                 2 - #05                 2 -       #10                                                                               - - GTC GTG AAG CAG ACC ATC TTC ATT CCT GCC CT - #G AAC ATC ACG ACC         TGT      727                                                                     Val Val Lys Gln Thr Ile Phe Ile Pro Ala Le - #u Asn Ile Thr Thr Cys                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - CAT GAT GTT TTG CCT GAG CAG CTC TTG GTG GG - #A GAC ATG TTC AAT TAC           775                                                                        His Asp Val Leu Pro Glu Gln Leu Leu Val Gl - #y Asp Met Phe Asn Tyr                        230      - #           235      - #           240                   - - TTC CTC TCT CTG GCC ATT GGG GTC TTT CTG TT - #C CCA GCC TTC CTC ACA           823                                                                        Phe Leu Ser Leu Ala Ile Gly Val Phe Leu Ph - #e Pro Ala Phe Leu Thr                    245          - #       250          - #       255                       - - GCC TCT GCC TAT GTG CTG ATG ATC AGA ATG CT - #G CGA TCT TCT GCC ATG           871                                                                        Ala Ser Ala Tyr Val Leu Met Ile Arg Met Le - #u Arg Ser Ser Ala Met                260              - #   265              - #   270                           - - GAT GAA AAC TCA GAG AAG AAA AGG AAG AGG GC - #C ATC AAA CTC ATT GTC           919                                                                        Asp Glu Asn Ser Glu Lys Lys Arg Lys Arg Al - #a Ile Lys Leu Ile Val            275                 2 - #80                 2 - #85                 2 -       #90                                                                               - - ACT GTC CTG GGC ATG TAC CTG ATC TGC TTC AC - #T CCT AGT AAC CTT         CTG      967                                                                     Thr Val Leu Gly Met Tyr Leu Ile Cys Phe Th - #r Pro Ser Asn Leu Leu                           295  - #               300  - #               305               - - CTT GTG GTG CAT TAT TTT CTG ATT AAG AGC CA - #G GGC CAG AGC CAT GTC          1015                                                                        Leu Val Val His Tyr Phe Leu Ile Lys Ser Gl - #n Gly Gln Ser His Val                        310      - #           315      - #           320                   - - TAT GCC CTG TAC ATT GTA GCC CTC TGC CTC TC - #T ACC CTT AAC AGC TGC          1063                                                                        Tyr Ala Leu Tyr Ile Val Ala Leu Cys Leu Se - #r Thr Leu Asn Ser Cys                    325          - #       330          - #       335                       - - ATC GAC CCC TTT GTC TAT TAC TTT GTT TCA CA - #T GAT TTC AGG GAT CAT          1111                                                                        Ile Asp Pro Phe Val Tyr Tyr Phe Val Ser Hi - #s Asp Phe Arg Asp His                340              - #   345              - #   350                           - - GCA AAG AAC GCT CTC CTT TGC CGA AGT GTC CG - #C ACT GTA AAG CAG ATG          1159                                                                        Ala Lys Asn Ala Leu Leu Cys Arg Ser Val Ar - #g Thr Val Lys Gln Met            355                 3 - #60                 3 - #65                 3 -       #70                                                                               - - CAA GTA CCC CTC ACC TCA AAG AAA CAC TCC AG - #G AAA TCC AGC TCT         TAC     1207                                                                     Gln Val Pro Leu Thr Ser Lys Lys His Ser Ar - #g Lys Ser Ser Ser Tyr                           375  - #               380  - #               385               - - TCT TCA AGT TCA ACC ACT GTT AAG ACC TCC TA - #T TGAGTTTTCC AGGTCCTCA     G   1260                                                                        Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Thr Val Lys Thr Ser Ty - #r                                            390      - #           395                                          - - ATGGGAATTG CACAGTAGGA TGTGGAACCT GTTTAATGTT ATGAGGACGT GT -              #CTGTTATT   1320                                                                  - - TCCGGATCCA GATCTTATTA AAGCAGAACT TGTTTATTGC AGCTTATAAT GG -             #TTACAAAT   1380                                                                  - - AAAGCAATAG CATCACAAAT TTCACAAATA AAGC       - #                  -      #      1414                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:63:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 397 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:63:                               - - Met Arg Ser Pro Ser Ala Ala Trp Leu Leu Gl - #y Ala Ala Ile Leu Leu         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ala Ala Ser Leu Ser Cys Ser Gly Thr Ile Gl - #n Gly Thr Asn Arg Ser                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Ser Lys Gly Arg Ser Leu Ile Gly Lys Val As - #p Gly Thr Ser His Val                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Thr Gly Lys Gly Val Thr Val Glu Thr Val Ph - #e Ser Val Asp Glu Phe            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Ser Ala Ser Val Leu Ala Gly Lys Leu Thr Th - #r Val Phe Leu Pro Ile        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Val Tyr Thr Ile Val Phe Ala Val Gly Leu Pr - #o Ser Asn Gly Met Ala                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Leu Trp Val Phe Leu Phe Arg Thr Lys Lys Ly - #s His Pro Ala Val Ile                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Tyr Met Ala Asn Leu Ala Leu Ala Asp Leu Le - #u Ser Val Ile Trp Phe               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Pro Leu Lys Ile Ala Tyr His Ile His Gly As - #n Asn Trp Ile Tyr Gly           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Glu Ala Leu Cys Asn Val Leu Ile Gly Phe Ph - #e Tyr Arg Asn Met Tyr       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Cys Ser Ile Leu Phe Met Thr Cys Leu Ser Va - #l Gln Arg Tyr Trp         Val                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Ile Val Asn Pro Met Gly His Ser Arg Lys Ly - #s Ala Asn Ile Ala Ile                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Gly Ile Ser Leu Ala Ile Trp Leu Leu Thr Le - #u Leu Val Thr Ile Pro               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Leu Tyr Val Val Lys Gln Thr Ile Phe Ile Pr - #o Ala Leu Asn Ile Thr           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Thr Cys His Asp Val Leu Pro Glu Gln Leu Le - #u Val Gly Asp Met Phe       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Asn Tyr Phe Leu Ser Leu Ala Ile Gly Val Ph - #e Leu Phe Pro Ala         Phe                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Leu Thr Ala Ser Ala Tyr Val Leu Met Ile Ar - #g Met Leu Arg Ser Ser                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Ala Met Asp Glu Asn Ser Glu Lys Lys Arg Ly - #s Arg Ala Ile Lys Leu               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Ile Val Thr Val Leu Gly Met Tyr Leu Ile Cy - #s Phe Thr Pro Ser Asn           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Leu Leu Leu Val Val His Tyr Phe Leu Ile Ly - #s Ser Gln Gly Gln Ser       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - His Val Tyr Ala Leu Tyr Ile Val Ala Leu Cy - #s Leu Ser Thr Leu         Asn                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Ser Cys Ile Asp Pro Phe Val Tyr Tyr Phe Va - #l Ser His Asp Phe Arg                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Asp His Ala Lys Asn Ala Leu Leu Cys Arg Se - #r Val Arg Thr Val Lys               355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - Gln Met Gln Val Pro Leu Thr Ser Lys Lys Hi - #s Ser Arg Lys Ser Ser           370              - #   375              - #   380                           - - Ser Tyr Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Thr Val Lys Th - #r Ser Tyr                   385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                           __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A method to modulate blood pressure in a subject comprising the administration of an effective amount of a peptide compound selected from the group consisting ofi) a peptide that is effective to activate the C140 receptor and having the formula

    AA.sub.1 -AA.sub.2 -AA.sub.3 -AA.sub.4 -AA.sub.5 -AA.sub.6 -AA.sub.7 -Z (1)

whereinAA₁ is a small amino acid or threonine; AA₂ and AA₃ are each independently neutral/nonpolar/large/nonaromatic amino acids; AA₄ is a small amino acid; AA₅ is a basic amino acid; AA₆ may be present or absent and, if present, is a neutral/nonpolar/large/nonaromatic amino acid; AA₇ is absent if AA₆ is absent and may be present or absent if AA₆ is present and is an acidic amino acid; and Z is a substituent that does not interfere with agonist activity; and ii) a peptide that is effective to inhibit activation of the C140 receptor and having the formula

    X-AA.sub.2 -AA.sub.3 -AA.sub.4 -AA.sub.5 -AA.sub.6 -AA.sub.7 -Z (2)

wherein X is an amino acid residue other than Ser, Ala, Thr, Cys, 2,3-diaP or Gly or is a desamino or acylated amino acid, wherein AA₂ and AA₃ are each independently neutral/nonpolar/large/nonaromatic amino acids; AA₄ is a small amino acid; AA₅ is a basic amino acid; AA₆ may be present or absent and, if present, is a neutral/nonpolar/large/nonaromatic amino acid; AA₇ is absent if AA₆ is absent and may be present or absent if AA₆ is present, and is an acidic amino acid; and Z is a substituent that does not interfere with antagonist activity.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said peptide activates the C140 receptor.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said peptide inhibits activation of the C140 receptor.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the C-terminus carboxyl group of said peptide is amidated, esterified or in the form of a salt.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein AA₁ is Ser, Ala, Gly, Thr, or 2,3-diamino-propionic (2,3-diaP); and/orwherein each of AA₂ and AA₃ is independently selected from the group consisting of Ile, Val, Leu, and Cha; and/or wherein AA₄ is Gly; and/or wherein AA₅ is Arg, Lys or Har; and/or wherein Z comprises OR', or NR'R' wherein each R' is independently H or is a straight or branched chain alkyl of 1-6C, wherein each R' may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of --OR', --NR'R'and --NR'CNR'NR'R' wherein each R' is H or is a straight or branched chain alkyl of 1-6C.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of SLIGRLETQPPIT (SEQ ID NO: 32), SLIGRLETQPPI (SEQ ID NO: 33), SLIGRLETQPP (SEQ ID NO: 34), SLIGRLETQP (SEQ ID NO: 35), SLIGRLETQ (SEQ ID NO: 36), SLIGRLET (SEQ ID NO: 37), SLIGRLE (SEQ ID NO: 38), SLIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 39), SLIGR (SEQ ID NO: 40), SLLGKVDGTSHVT (SEQ ID NO: 41), SLLGKVDGTSHV (SEQ ID NO: 42), SLLGKVDGTSH (SEQ ID NO: 43), SLLGKVDGTS (SEQ ID NO: 44), SLLGKVDGT (SEQ ID NO: 45), SLLGKVDG (SEQ ID NO: 46), SLLGKVD (SEQ ID NO: 47), SLLGKV (SEQ ID NO: 48), SLLGK (SEQ ID NO: 49), S(Cha)IGR (SEQ ID NO: 50), S(Cha)LGK (SEQ ID NO: 51), (2,3-diaP)-LIGR (SEQ ID NO: 52), (2,3-diaP)LLGK (SEQ ID NO: 53), SLLGKR-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 54), SLIGRR-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 55), S(Cha)LGKK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 56), S(Cha)IGRK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO 57), (2,3-diaP)-LIGRK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 58), and (2,3-diaP)-LLGKK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 59).
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein AA₁ -AA₂ -AA₃ is selected from the group consisting of SLI, SLL, SChal, SChaL, (2,3-diaP)LI and (2,3-diaP)LL; and/or wherein Z includes an additional peptide sequence of 1-5 amino acids.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein AA₁ is Ser.
 9. The method of claim 5, wherein AA₁ is (2,3-diaP).
 10. The method of claim 3, wherein X is Mvl, Mpr, Mba, or SMeMpr; and/orwherein each of AA₂ and AA₃ is independently selected from the group consisting of Ile, Val, Leu, Nle, Nva, Cyclopentylalanine and Cha; and/or wherein AA₄ is Gly; and/or wherein AA₅ is Arg, Lys, Orn or Har; and/or wherein Z comprises OR' or an ester or salt thereof, or NR'R' wherein each R' is independently H or is a straight or branched chain alkyl of 1-6C, wherein each R' may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of --OR', --NR'R', and --NR'CNR'NR'R' wherein each R' is H or is a straight or branched chain alkyl of 1-6C.
 11. The method of claim 3, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of Mpr-LLGK (SEQ ID NO: 9), Mpr-LIGR (SEQ ID NO: 10), Mpr-(Cha)LKG (SEQ ID NO: 11), Mpr-(Cha)IGR (SEQ ID NO: 12), Mpr-LLGKK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 13), Mpr-LIGRK-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 14), Mpr-LIGRKETQP-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 15), Mpr-LLGKKDGTS-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 16), (n-pentyl)₂ -N-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-Lys-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 17), Me-N-(n-pentyl)-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-Lys-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 18) and the amidated or acylated forms thereof.
 12. The method of claim 3, wherein AA₂ -AA₃ is selected from the group consisting of LI, LL, ChaI, and ChaL; and/orwherein Z includes a peptide extension of 1-5 amino acid residues. 